Oh Murray!

  Today my favorite illustrator of all time passed away, Maurice Sendak. sigh. A little piece of my childhood died with him. But! If only all of us could leave such reminders behind us as he has bestowed! Reams of drawings, stories, paintings and beautifully dark insights into the naughty child who lurks within of each of us. Thanks Murray you old salty grump for leaving a gorgeous pile of inspiration for us and our children. We will not forget you.

portrait by suzanne clute

"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 drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it." - Maurice Sendak

More great quotes, drawings, and interviews collected here.