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Children's book author Maurice Sendak poses with one of the creatures he created for his timeless book 'Where the Wild Things Are'

Maurice Sendak

As a Guest

7 segments
51:36

'Fresh Air' Remembers Author Maurice Sendak

Author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, whose book Where the Wild Things Are became a favorite for generations of kids, died at age 83. Fresh Air remembers Sendak with excerpts from several interviews.

Children's book author Maurice Sendak poses with one of the creatures he created for his timeless book 'Where the Wild Things Are'
20:36

This Pig Wants To Party: Maurice Sendak's Latest

Bumble-ardy is a deeply imaginative tale about an orphaned pig who longs for a birthday party. Sendak, who is 83, wrote and illustrated the book while caring for his longtime partner, who died of cancer in 2007. "I did Bumble-ardy to save myself," Sendak says. "I did not want to die with him."

Interview
34:37

Artist, Writer and Designer Maurice Sendak

His new book Brundibar is based on a Czech opera of the same name. It was set to music by Hans Krasa, who was imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camp Terezin and later killed in Auschwitz. The opera was performed 55 times by the children of Terezin. Sendak has also written and illustrated the classic children's books Where the Wild Things Are, In The Night Kitchen and Outside Over There. Time magazine has said, "For Sendak, visiting the land of the very young is not something that requires a visa.

Interview

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