Who Was Maurice Sendak?

Here’s a fun little fact to start: Maurice Sendak was born on the very same day that Mickey Mouse made his cartoon debut—June 10, 1928. Fitting, isn’t it? Because young Maurice was absolutely crazy about cartoons and comic books.

This easy-to-read, illustrated biography tells the story of how a sickly little boy—often confined to bed, where he read and read and read—grew up to become one of the most influential children’s book artists of the twentieth century.

At twelve, after seeing Disney’s Fantasia, he made up his mind: he was going to be an illustrator. And what an illustrator he became.

While many of Sendak’s stories were light and funny, his most important ones—Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There—bravely tackled big, real feelings like anger, jealousy, and abandonment. These were subjects no one had dared put in a picture book before. Kids felt seen. And generations have loved him for it.

Part of the wildly popular Who Was? series, this little book covers both his career highlights and his personal life, giving young readers a thoughtful, accessible peek into the mind of a true genius.

Perfect for curious kids (ages 8–12) who already adore the Wild Things—or for any young reader who loves discovering the real people behind the stories.

It’s the kind of book we love to slip into little hands here in the cove. Bring it home, curl up, and let the discovery begin.

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