Author Maurice Sendak dies at 83

Author of “Where the Wild Things Are” used children’s literature to address the psychological intensity of growing up.

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June 16, 1981

Maurice Sendak, an author and illustrator whose dozens of works, notably “Where the Wild Things Are,” transformed children's literature from a gentle playscape into a medium to address the psychological intensity of growing up, died early Tuesday at a hospital in Danbury, Conn., according to the Associated Press.

Thomas Victor / AP

This image provided by HarperCollins shows the book cover of "Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak.

AP / AP

1963

Final drawing for "Where the Wild Things Are." One of the most memorable phrases in Sendak's book is Max's proclamation, "And now, let the wild rumpus start!" Sendak's conception of the wild rumpus was visionary when this book was published. He used these remarkable images as double-page spreads without any text, just scene after scene of Max and the Wild Things being wild. The wordless images allowed Sendak's readers to imagine their way into Max's world. This scene is the only scene where the Wild Things take their eyes off of Max throughout the entire book, shifting their attention to a full moon instead.

/ COPYRIGHT MAURICE SENDAK, 1963

Sept. 25, 1985

Author Maurice Sendak poses with one of the characters from his book "Where the Wild Things Are," designed for the operatic adaptation of his book in St. Paul, Minn.

/ AP

October 1988

Artist Maurice Sendak checks proofs of art for a major advertising campaign for American Express's Purchase Protection Plan, in his Ridgefield, Conn.

/ AP

July 26, 1990

Artist Maurice Sendak signs his individual prints from the "The Mother Goose Collection" in New York. Sendak, along with five other children's illustrators, created a limited portfolio of 300 for the Children's Health Fund to benefit more than 12,000 homeless children in New York City.

Susan Ragan / AP

Dec. 2, 1997

Maurice Sendak, the children's book writer and illustrator, points to elements of the witch's house he designed for the PBS production of "Hansel und Gretel" at New York's Juilliard School.

Yukio Gion / AP

October 12, 2000

World renowned illustrator Maurice Sendak and Emmy and Grammy winning producer/director Todd McFarlane pose with a "wild thing" for photographers at FAO Schwarz for a product signing to release the new McFarlane Toys line of "Where the Wild Things Are action figures" in New York City.

George De Sota / Getty Images

Jan. 11, 2002

Standing with a character from his book "Where the Wild Things Are," author and illustrator Maurice Sendak speaks with the media before the opening of an exhibition entitled, "Maurice Sendak In His Own Words and Pictures," at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan in New York City.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Feb. 12, 2004

Children’s book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, points to young fan, Marcus Gabrielli, 3, as he signs autographs at an event where he was given a lifetime achievement award from Child Magazine in New York.

Mike Appleton / AP

October 8, 2009

From left to right: Illustrator and writer Maurice Sendak and actress Catherine Keener attend a documentary screening of "Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Michael Loccisano

Oct., 13, 2009

Author Maurice Sendak, left, film director Spike Jonze, center, and actor Max Records, right, arrive to the New York premiere of the film "Where the Wild Things Are."

Stuart Ramson / AP

Oct. 8, 2009

Children's book author Maurice Sendak is photographed doing an interview at his home in Ridgefield, Conn.

Mary Altaffer / AP

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