“I mean, just children surviving childhood is my obsessive theme and my life’s concern.” – Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak, illustrator and author of Where the Wild Things Are and many other stories running whimsical to dark, died Tuesday, May 8 at the age of 83. Though his stories are occasionally controversial, they also reflect a deep respect for the fears and difficulties of childhood, perhaps because his own was difficult.

What’s your favorite Sendak book or illustration? I like Where the Wild Things Are for the rumpus and the warm resolution, and the thorny facial expressions of Alligators All Around make me smile.

To learn more about Sendak, click to reserve a copy of his biography. Check out some commentary, too.