Comments on: Illustrating Childhood: Maurice Sendak

By: Starla

Starla — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:53 +0000

I found “Sloth’s Birthday Party” at a garage sale, in the free bin, this past summer. My sister decided to let my first copy go for a swim when we were children. We also got “Frog and Toad Are Friends” at the sale. I love it when elementary school teachers retire and sell off their books!

By: Tamsyn

Tamsyn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:30:08 +0000

You never outgrow your favorite children’s book. I have favorite “grown-up” authors, but my favorite book is still “Sloth’s Birthday Party” by Diane Redfield Massie. And I still get choked up reading “Make Way for Ducklings”, “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” to my girls.

By: Peripa

Peripa — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:13:46 +0000

Maurice Sendak is an absolute genius in the world of children’s lit. My own children, 2 and 4, are in love with his One Was Johnny.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:42:56 +0000

Does one ever get too old for a good children’s picture book?

I say never!

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:49:55 +0000

I heartily concur, tea–in my spare time I illustrate my own amateur children’s books. It is its own Art, and Maurice’s work is some of the best and most beautiful and rare that exists.

By: tea

tea — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:42:17 +0000

Now, this is a great idea for the series. Some of the illustration in children’s picture books is groundbreaking art — but it doesn’t get a lot of respect from people who think there’s a such thing as capital ‘A’ art. Sean Qualls’ work is fresh and unique mixed media that has a real jazz feel. Julie Paschkis does amazing things with gouache, and Molly Meade make woodblock look easy. The work of artists like Ashley Bryan, Carin Berger and Andrea Wisnewski use papercutting. There’s a lot being done that is mostly for kids, but it’s still real art. Thanks for highlighting this.