“Once 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.”
Sad news today, hearing of Maurice Sendak's death. I grew up reading his books and watching Little Bear. He was one of the artists whose work I really felt a connection with at a young age, and I still respect him now as a serious artist. Rest in Peace, you charming, grumpy, wonderful old man.