And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.
Maurice Sendak in Where the Wild Things AreChildren do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do.
Children & Childhood, ImaginationMaurice SendakOnce a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children's letters -- sometimes very hastily -- but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, 'Dear Jim: I loved your card." Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, 'Jim loved your card so much he ate it." That to me was one of the highest compliments I've ever received. He didn't care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.
Maurice SendakPlease don't go. We'll eat you up. We love you so.
Maurice Sendak in Where the Wild Things AreThen from far away across the world he smelled good things to eat, so he gave up being king of the wild things.
Maurice Sendak in Where the Wild Things AreI cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more.
Grief & Condolence, Day of the DeadMaurice SendakYou cannot write for children. They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.
Children & Childhood, Books, WritingMaurice SendakAnd Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.
Maurice Sendak in Where the Wild Things Are