To do great writing, read great writing. Here’s the great writing I’ve been reading this week:
Maurice Sendak died this week at 83. The children’s book author and illustrator dared to be different: he depicted childhood as it was – fun but scary, at times adventurous and tedious. Fighting with your siblings and making up afterwards. Daydreams and nightmares.
For writers, inspiration comes in many forms. This week, mine came from Sendak, who I grew up reading, and whose books I lovingly shared with my own children.
Here are five of my favorites:
In the Night Kitchen – If you visit my parents’ house, you’ll find this book in a downstairs bedroom where grandkids stay when they visit, one of several dozen children’s books that have been there for years.
Little Bear – Sendak illustrated this book by Else Holmelund Minarik, about the little bear who’s learning to be comfortable in his own skin (or fur) and his very patient mother.
Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months – Like Dr. Seuss, Sendak showed that it’s OK to be silly while teaching something serious, in this case, the months of the year.
No Fighting, No Biting – Another Else Holmelund Minarik book with illustrations by Sendak. I grew up with three sisters – all of us a year apart – and a little brother who came along when I was eight. Though we’re all close now, we fought constantly growing up, which is why I appreciate this little book so much.
Where the Wild Things Are – A classic.
What are your favorites by Sendak?
I was never exposed to all of these Sendak books, but it makes me want to go out and buy them for my grandchildren. I’ve only read Where the Wild Things Are. I know my son loved that one, and I bought it for his first child. Maybe they’d like these others as well. Thanks for sharing your list.
Jackie: They’re all wonderful. Chicken Soup with Rice comes in a trio of books called The Nutshell Library, with Pierre and Alligators All Around. Another good one is One Was Johnny.
This is making me nostalgic for the days when my kids were little and these books were our nap-time reading material.
Michelle
Although “Where the Wild Things Are” is one of my favorites, I adore the Little Bear stories. I didn’t realize Sendak had illustrated “No Fighting, No Biting,” which has become a mantra in my house with our three kids!