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Where the Wild Things Are Creator, Maurice Sendak, Recalls the Best Fan Mail He Ever Received

Where the Wild Things Are is one of the most popular children’s books ever written and writer/illustrator Maurice Sendak is rightly regarded as one of the finest children’s authors of all time. Sendak received a great deal of fan mail after the success of his books and, in this quote, he recalls the best fan mail he ever received which, despite his recognition, he regards as one of the highest compliments he’s ever had.

“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.”

Most of us would treasure a letter written to us by our favourite author, but we think this little boy’s reaction is easily the most pure expression of love and admiration possible. We just hope he at least chewed it first!



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