A Tribute to Sendak Through Books

I am very sad today.  The best way I know how to honor Sendak is to go back and look through his books and reflect on the impact he has had on children's literature.  Through his work, he will live on.

Maurice Sendak had a long, wonderful, varied and productive career.  These are some of the books and objects I have or have had the privilege to own.  It is wonderful to see how his style evolved over the years.  The selection below just scratches the surface of his genius. 

A Hole is to Dig by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1952.

I'll Be You and You Be Me by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1954

The Bat-Poet by Randall Jarrell, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1964.

Big Book for Peace, cover art by Maurice Sendak, illustrations by Sendak and others, 1990.

Caldecott & Co: Essays by Maurice Sendak, 1988.

Dwarf Long-Nose by Wilhelm Hauff, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1960.

Fly by Night by Randall Jarrell, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1976.

Happy Hanukah Everybody by Hyman and Alice Chanover, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1955

A Kiss for Little Bear by Else Minarik, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1968.

Poster for Melville Biography for which Sendak created the cover art, 2002.

Dear Mili by Wilhelm Grimm Illustrated by Maurice Sendak and with a reproduction of a sketch by Sendak, 1988

Mug designed by Maurice Sendak for the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, 1987.

Pierre, by Maurice Sendak, 1962, this edition circa 1988.

Seven Tales by H. C. Andersen, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1959.

We Are all in the Dumps with Jack and Guy by Maurice Sendak, 1993

Zlateh the Goat by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1966.

Card designed by Maurice Sendak in memory of his brother, Jack. 1995.

Charlotte and the White Horse by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1955.

Cunning Little Vixen by Rudolf Tesnohlidek; Illustrated By Maurice Sendak, 1985.

Program for the Glyndebourne Opera Festival designed by Maurice Sendak, 1982.

Good Shabbos, Everybody by Robert Garvey, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1951

Houston Opera Program illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1997.

The Juniper Tree and other Tales from Grimm, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1973.

Let's Be Enemies by Janice May Udry, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1961.

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, 1970.

Open House for Butterflies by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1960.

Somebody Else's Nut Tree by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, 1958

Promotional piece by Harper Collins advertising various works by Sendak, Circa 1993.

And of course...

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, 1963.

Just for Fun: Mice, A Bear and a Zoo

Late last night I needed a quick kid's book fix, so I wandered my shelves and pulled down three random books.  It just happened that they were, all three, about animals.

First up:  Is There a Mouse in the House, by Josephine Gibson, Illustrated by N. M. Bodecker. 1965.
I remember this book from when I was a kid.  It still had the same effect--giggles aplenty.  Definitely a fun book for reading aloud.  Here are some samples (you may have to click on the images to see double pages):

Next up?  Henry Bear's Park by David McPhail, 1976.

This book was reissued in 2003 in a larger format and redesigned with color pictures.  Despite the color artwork, it pales in comparison to the first edition.  The artwork is detailed and charming.  The story is good overall, but I feel like the ending is a bit of a letdown and expected.

Lastly, I read A Zoo for Mister Muster by Arnold Lobel, 1962.

The story is a fun one, about a man who visits the zoo everyday and has befriended the animals.  When he doesn't show up one day, the animals come to visit him!  I remember this book from my childhood; most vividly I remembered the image of the animals hiding in Mr. Muster's apartment.

Revisiting A Few Early Berta and Elmer Hader Books

Today I revisited three early titles illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader.  Stripey, A Little Zebra, Little Elephant, and A Monkey Tale.  While the Hader's would become more well-known later in their careers for their Caldecott Honor Book Mighty Hunter and their Caldecott Award Winner The Big Snow, I find myself appreciating their earlier work more.  At the time when they first started, many publishers limited artists based on the expense of reproducing color and half-tone artwork, particularly in the genre of picture books.  What I appreciate about the Haders' early work is the way they worked masterfully within those limits.

Stripey, Little Elephant and A Monkey Tale were written by Hamilton Williamson and each book is about a different baby animal and how they use their natural abilities to survive.  I really like these books and think they would still hold up today for very young readers.

Stripey, A Little Zebra by Hamilton Williamson.  Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1939.

Little Elephant by Hamilton Williamson.  Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1930.

A Monkey Tale by Hamilton Williamson.  Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1929.

There are also three other books in this series, which I currently do not own.  Lion Cub, Humpy of the Sands and Baby Bear (which I have had in the past)

Baby Bear by Hamilton Williamson.  Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1930.

I do think the Haders' later work is beautiful, but the books that they both wrote and illustrated don't seem to stand the test of time, with a few exceptions.  Their Willow Hill stories are still very readable but have a quaint feeling that many young readers won't relate to.  Nowadays they are collected, almost solely, for the artwork in the books and not the text.

Some other books by the Haders

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1948 (Caldecott Medal)


Mighty Hunter by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1943 (Caldecott Honor)

Reindeer Trail by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1959.

Quack, Quack by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1961.