RIP Maurice Sendak

John Dugdale/HarperCollins Children's Book

I never read any of Maurice Sendak's book as a child, it was only recently that I started to read more about him, mainly because of the movie Where the Wild Things Are that is based on his book. Maurice Sendak, the author and illustrator didn't like to be thought of as a children's author.

From what I've read and heard, he's a man who told it like it is - a deep, thoughtful and an uncompromising man. He's someone I would have enjoyed having a meal with.

Here's a round up of recent video and radio interviews with Maurice Sendak.

TateShots: Maurice Sendak from December 2011

The Colbert Report from January 2012

Fresh Air on NPR

NPR dedicated yesterday's episode of Fresh Air to Maurice Sendak and posted excerpts from his interviews between 1986-2011, you can hear the interviews here.

But if you only have time to hear one thing from Maurice Sendak, I urge you to listen to the NPR interview with Maurice Sendak from September 2011. He talks about love, family, friends, life and death. It's a very, very moving interview and brought tears to me eyes.

There are so many beautiful things in the world which I will have to leave when I die, but I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready.

RIP Maurice Sendak.

Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83

[image from NPR]