I think this may be the best thing you've written for Moonbow, Taylor -- just excellent, from beginning to end.
A whole dissertation could be written about Outside Over There. Even when I read it now, it's so strange and otherworldly and utterly brilliant, I feel like I can't hold it all at once.
Taylor! Thank you for doing all of this research and writing this essay. You’ve captured so much of Sendak’s essence as a writer and an artist.
I’ve spent the last three years with Sendak and Ursula Nordstrom and 14 other authors and illustrators she worked with (so fun!). My middle grade biography of Ursula, highlighting these collaborations, will be published by Abrams next spring. If you’d like, you can read more about it at my website, named after me.
Ursula discovered Sendak when he was, in his words, “twenty-two-and-a-half.” Eighteen years older than he, she nurtured him through many illustrated books. He even wrote a couple himself before Wild Things, but it was his breakthrough book—for all of the reasons you mentioned. They became good friends.
I had not been a Katherine Mansfield fan before your essay, but I will be checking her out. Thanks again for writing this essay!
Thank you, Nancy! Sounds like you're working on something really exciting. I adore Ursula! And thank you for supporting Moonbow—it means so much to me!
This piece is masterful. (I was going to say "really" or "very" masterful, but Ursula would object--"Really and very make nothing more so," so I'll leave it at masterful.) Happy to support Moonbow. Can't wait to see your next post!
What a treat to learn about the great Maurice Sendak. The craft of writing children's books feels so underappreciated--your words are going to make me read them with a new vantage point from now on. Loved every bit of this.
i felt every word of this! thank you for writing something so vibrant and enriching. ive always loved sendak, but i never had the exact words for why or how, it was on that level of sensation without deconstructing the parts. now i cant wait to read his books again, and not just him but others! and pay special attention in ways i didnt before.
What a brilliant piece, Taylor! I am going to bookmark it and come back to it every time I attempt to write. I love your appreciation of and love for Picture Books as an art form. It’s what makes existing in this world so exciting for me. Encapsulated so perfectly - thank you!!
Oh Taylor, you always amaze me. This was beautiful. By putting Sendak's work in conversation with other amazing creators, you've helped me understand him even better. I loved every bit of this.
Ahh Taylor, I didn’t want this essay to end!! So well-researched and gorgeously written.
I started thinking about the P.S. ending to Where the Wild Things Are about a month ago. Saying so much with so little… and perfectly. How, Maurice Sendak, how?!
I know! Reading him so much over the past three months, I'm like, how are we supposed to even try when his stuff exists?! lol - (And thank you for the kind words!)
I was in Maurice’s children’s book class at Parsons, when he was creating ‘Outside, Over There’.
I remember how he talked about how he was ‘stuck’ on one page turn for weeks… the scene of the ice babies. And then one day, the resolution of turning the babies to water and ice occurred to him… and it resolved it for him.
I was there when he brought in the pencils and showed the class the sketches to ‘Outside Over There’. I remarked ‘It looks like opera!’… and of course that meant Mozart! Only Mozart! lol!
I remember lending him a plastic bag to put the pencils into, since it was raining cats & dogs. So I got to save the sketches from a drenching…
Good times… and the start of my bookmaking career.
I think this may be the best thing you've written for Moonbow, Taylor -- just excellent, from beginning to end.
A whole dissertation could be written about Outside Over There. Even when I read it now, it's so strange and otherworldly and utterly brilliant, I feel like I can't hold it all at once.
Thank you, Sarah! And yes, Outside Over There is so hard to hold all at once, which I (mostly) enjoy. :)
Taylor! Thank you for doing all of this research and writing this essay. You’ve captured so much of Sendak’s essence as a writer and an artist.
I’ve spent the last three years with Sendak and Ursula Nordstrom and 14 other authors and illustrators she worked with (so fun!). My middle grade biography of Ursula, highlighting these collaborations, will be published by Abrams next spring. If you’d like, you can read more about it at my website, named after me.
Ursula discovered Sendak when he was, in his words, “twenty-two-and-a-half.” Eighteen years older than he, she nurtured him through many illustrated books. He even wrote a couple himself before Wild Things, but it was his breakthrough book—for all of the reasons you mentioned. They became good friends.
I had not been a Katherine Mansfield fan before your essay, but I will be checking her out. Thanks again for writing this essay!
Thank you, Nancy! Sounds like you're working on something really exciting. I adore Ursula! And thank you for supporting Moonbow—it means so much to me!
This piece is masterful. (I was going to say "really" or "very" masterful, but Ursula would object--"Really and very make nothing more so," so I'll leave it at masterful.) Happy to support Moonbow. Can't wait to see your next post!
Wow, Nancy—thank you. :)
Such an interesting Text. Thank you!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Lada!
What a treat to learn about the great Maurice Sendak. The craft of writing children's books feels so underappreciated--your words are going to make me read them with a new vantage point from now on. Loved every bit of this.
Thank you so much, Christy!
i felt every word of this! thank you for writing something so vibrant and enriching. ive always loved sendak, but i never had the exact words for why or how, it was on that level of sensation without deconstructing the parts. now i cant wait to read his books again, and not just him but others! and pay special attention in ways i didnt before.
Thank you, Jessie. I'm glad it sparked something in you. Happy reading!
What a brilliant piece, Taylor! I am going to bookmark it and come back to it every time I attempt to write. I love your appreciation of and love for Picture Books as an art form. It’s what makes existing in this world so exciting for me. Encapsulated so perfectly - thank you!!
Thank you so much, Ella! I love your appreciation for picture books, too! Happy to be doing this work together.
Ahh, thanks Taylor! 🥰
Here’s to the art of the picture book, in all its glory! 📖 ✨
Oh Taylor, you always amaze me. This was beautiful. By putting Sendak's work in conversation with other amazing creators, you've helped me understand him even better. I loved every bit of this.
Thank you, my friend. Means a lot.
Ahh Taylor, I didn’t want this essay to end!! So well-researched and gorgeously written.
I started thinking about the P.S. ending to Where the Wild Things Are about a month ago. Saying so much with so little… and perfectly. How, Maurice Sendak, how?!
I know! Reading him so much over the past three months, I'm like, how are we supposed to even try when his stuff exists?! lol - (And thank you for the kind words!)
Oh also! I found an older copy of Chicken Soup With Rice at Goodwill recently. What do you think about that little book?!
I love that book— I have it in small, medium, and super big! I love all of the Nutshell Library books. Have you read Pierre? That one is my favorite.
I TOTALLY forgot that book existed!!!!
I was in Maurice’s children’s book class at Parsons, when he was creating ‘Outside, Over There’.
I remember how he talked about how he was ‘stuck’ on one page turn for weeks… the scene of the ice babies. And then one day, the resolution of turning the babies to water and ice occurred to him… and it resolved it for him.
I was there when he brought in the pencils and showed the class the sketches to ‘Outside Over There’. I remarked ‘It looks like opera!’… and of course that meant Mozart! Only Mozart! lol!
I remember lending him a plastic bag to put the pencils into, since it was raining cats & dogs. So I got to save the sketches from a drenching…
Good times… and the start of my bookmaking career.
Oh you know I love me some Sendak. This is a beautiful tribute, Taylor ✨📚