When our daughter, Megan, was born, our agent at the time sent her a bundle of children’s book classics. Among them was Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. It was always one of my personal favorites and when Megan was old enough to sit up and hold books, she often paged through this one. Even though she couldn’t read then, the visual feast of the illustrations was enough to hold her rapt attention. We still have the book, tucked away on a shelf in the back bedroom.
The other day, I dropped by DJan’s blog and found this wonderful You Tube video about Sendak – one of the last radio interviews he did, with Terry Gross of Fresh Air. He died last year at the age of 83, a talented man who, as DJan said, taught her where the wild things are. Taught all of us.
The video is a tribute to Sendak by the New York Times; artist Christopher Niemann did the drawings you’ll see in the video. It’s a moving interview and reminds me to do what Sendak suggested: “Live your life, live your life, live your life…”
Such a touching video! About writing books for children….many years ago, I penned a fantasy-fairytale entitled THE MIRACLE OF THE RAINBOW CONCH. It was a tale describing how the musical sounds of the sea came to be in the conch shells. Several editors read it, and told me it should be a shoo-in for publication; that it was incredibly “visual”; a story-painting in words. But when I looked thru the enormous Writer’s Book for publishers who accepted manuscripts for children, all of them, ALL of them, stated they did not accept any manuscripts containing characters….inanimate obects and/or animals….that TALKED.
Well, that closed the door for me, because in my fairytale, there is a rainbow conch who speaks, and a magick fairy, and a wonderful island wizard. So, my little story has remained in its dusty file since then. Every once in a while I take it out and re-read it myself, and it makes ME smile. I gave a copy to the astro-physicist with whom I had worked , and altho he is an atheist and scoffs at magic, he was enthralled by it. Taking away the magic from children, in my opinion, is taking away some of the most precious aspects of childhood. Anyway, guys, thanks for this wonderful and inspiring video!
I think that’s changed. But maybe not. I think it sounds enchanting!
Trish,
The part where he told terry it would make him so sad if she passed before him. Heart breaking moment. Terry had been talking to him for nearly 20 plus years at this point.
It was Dr. Seuss and where the wild things are, that made life a joy . To keep curious is the best we can do…
Laurence
Agreed. That interview was deeply moving.
To remain curious…that pretty much pegs it!
I attended a talk at the Byron Bay Writer’s Festival called
“Reaching the World:Writing that crosses cultures for adults and children”
which was about the children’s book market mainly and there was a lady by the name of Sarah Brennan who is quite a successful children’s author in Hong Kong.
I did a post on my blog about her a while back with links to her blog and books.
https://brizdazz.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/my-childrens-books-syncs.html
There is a lot of money to be made in children’s books if you can draw,or can find a good illustrator,like Sarah did.
So maybe we could be reading about Rob and Trish MacGregor the successful children’s book authors in a few years time ?-)
I don’t know…kids’ books are probably the toughest to write!
it’s really interesting how some children’s books impact also the adults/parents of the children – i remember the first time i bought wild things so many many moons ago – for my own children – and how, thereafter, each of them bought the same book for their children – that original book is still in the family – the other thing i remember most is how the parents -especially me – were just as smitten with the book as the little ones – the illustrations taking us all on a mystical magical mesmorizing journey we will not forget – great post taking us all back to that wonderful land where the wild things live –
I am a little embarrassed to admit how many times I’ve watched that video, Trish. I just love it, too. I hear his beautiful voice admonishing me to live my life, and I’m doing it. Just thinking about that video makes my eyes begin to water. Thanks for passing it along. 🙂
I had heard this Terry Gross segment before and so glad you posted it.
I had never heard it before- even though I listen to NPR whenever I’m driving.
Loving your book, Adele.
Such a touching interview – and ‘Live your life, live your life, live your life…’ how very true. I don’t think I’ve ever come across Maurice Sendak previously but when I saw the book cover illustration I thought it very much like the Gruffalo which my grandson loves. I must admit that as the years tick by I grow more emotional about life and the people I miss.
you aren’t alone on that score, Mike! I wonder who wrote Gruffalo…