Amazing Authors
You know, books are SO fantastic and seem to take on a life of their own when you read them. So it’s easy to forget that behind every great book is an even greater author. So this page celebrates our favourite authors! There’s a fact file for them: when and where they were born, why and when they started writing, where they went to school, even some fascinating facts and funny quotes! Please share with me YOUR favourite authors, and I’ll share mine!
This month I want to honour the great Maurice Sendak who died just this year. Maurice Sendak wasn’t just an Amazing Author; he was also an Amazing Artist! He was also a rebel who shocked a lot of mums and dads with his drawings and stories – but children have always just loved him and his books, perhaps because he understood children so well. Like the Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales he read as a child, his stories are filled with the extremes of things that are scary and things that are beautiful, angry feelings and feeling guilty about being angry. And the pictures are very, very special!
Maurice Sendak (1928 – 2012)
When and where born: Maurice Sendak was born in 1928 in Brooklyn in New York in the United States of America, to Jewish parents who had recently emigrated from Poland. His dad was a dressmaker, and he was the youngest of three children, two boys and an older sister.
Childhood: Maurice was often sick as child with serious illnesses like scarlet fever and pneumonia, so he spent a lot of time at home reading books, drawing and imagining. His dad and his brother were great story-tellers, and when Maurice was just six he and his brother wrote their first story together. He loved cartoons, especially Mickey Mouse, and films like King Kong. But his childhood was unhappy. While he was growing up in Brooklyn, his family relatives back in Poland were dying in the Holocaust of World War II, and he was surrounded by the terrible grief and suffering of his parents and their friends. This made a very deep impression on the sensitive and artistic boy, and his sadness and fear as a child was to shape all of his writing in the future.
School days: Maurice hated school, where he was bullied as a “sissy”, and he especially disliked school rules. However at the age of 12, he went with his family to see Walt Disney’s FANTASIA, and decided immediately that he would be an illustrator when he grew up. At high school he drew a comic strip for the school newspaper and also worked part-time for All American Comics. In his final year at school, he drew the illustrations for a physics textbook “Atomics for the Millions” that was published in 1947.
How he began writing and illustrating books: Maurice never went to college, but started work straight after leaving school as a window dresser for a department store. He worked there for four years while taking art classes at night. During this time he got his first commission to illustrate a children’s book, and soon afterwards he left his job to become a full time freelance children’s illustrator. He was to illustrate 74 books for other writers in his lifetime, and from 1956 he also wrote and illustrated 18 books himself.
But it was the fifth book which he wrote and illustrated, Where the Wild Things Are, which was to make him most famous. It was published in 1963 and the very next year won the famous Caldecott Medal. The book went on to become one of the top ten children’s best-sellers of all time!
During his long lifetime he went on to win many major prizes in children’s literature including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration in 1970 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 1983. In 1996 he was awarded a National Medal of the Arts for his contribution to the arts in the United States.
Maurice moved from New York City to the countryside in Connecticut in the early 1970s where he lived until his death this year. He never married, but lived for 50 years with his partner and best friend Eugene and his beloved dogs. He died this year at the age of 83 on the 8th of May 2012. In his New York Times obituary, he was called “the most important children’s book artist of the 20th Century”.
Fascinating facts:
- the name “Wild Thing” is a rough translation of “Vilde Chayea“, a Yiddish term that Jewish mums often yell at naughty boys;
- Maurice Sendak’s drawings were inspired by his childhood in Brooklyn, but also the Grimm Brothers’ fairy stories and Mozart’s operas;
- he used to write in complete silence, but draw to the music of Mozart;
- when he first thought up the story of “Where the Wild Things Are” it was going to be “Where the Wild Horses Are” but when it became clear that he wasn’t any good at drawing horses, his editor suggested that he changed the horses to “things”!
- the “Things” he then drew in his famous book were inspired by his “hideous beastly relatives” who used to come for dinner every Sunday afternoon when he was a child, pinching his cheeks and eating all the food in the house!
- a good friend said of Maurice Sendak “Maurice is rather courtly in his dealings with other people, except when provoked, and even then he merely bares his teeth and growls…”
- although he never went to college, he was an encyclopaedia of knowledge about poetry, fiction, painting and music;
- Maurice Sendak was a key member of the Board which oversaw the development of the Sesame Street series on TV!
Famous Quotes:
“I find children on the whole more direct and honest (than adults) but being a child doesn’t automatically make one superior. Although usually it does.”
“I don’t write for children. I don’t write for adults. I just write.”
“I’m totally crazy…that’s …what makes my work good…I do it because I can’t not do it”.
“When Mozart is playing in my room, I am in conjunction with something I can’t explain…I don’t need to. I know that if there’s a purpose for life, it was for me to hear Mozart”.
About E-Books: “I hate them…there isn’t ‘another kind of book’. A book is a book.” I completely agree with Maurice Sendak!
“There’s so much more to a book than just the reading. I’ve seen children touch books, fondle books, smell books, and it’s all the reason in the world why books should be beautifully produced.”
Read more about the unique, wonderful Maurice Sendak on these websites:
- one of the best kid-friendly websites to visit is: http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/authorsillustrato/a/sendakartistry.htm
- there are some amazing pictures about Maurice and his life and books on http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/gallery/2012/may/08/maurice-sendak-gallery#/?picture=389812948&index=14
- and some wonderful obituaries at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/books/maurice-sendak-childrens-author-dies-at-83.html?pagewanted=all and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/9252498/Maurice-Sendak.html
FOR MORE AMAZING AUTHORS, SEE THE TAB ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE!
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Sarah Brennan Funny & Fabulous Blog 
Your awesome thanks for coming to our school!
Comment by Kale-Ab— November 25, 2010 #
Thank you Kale-Ab, it was my pleasure!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— November 25, 2010 #
I really enjoyed your books!
Comment by Kale-Ab— November 25, 2010 #
I’m really happy you like my books – it makes writing them all worthwhile to get such lovely comments!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— November 25, 2010 #
Your books are the best!!! and thank you for coming to Kennedy School today it was the best like always
Comment by Madeleine Walker— March 31, 2011 #
Thanks Madeleine – it was my great pleasure!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— March 31, 2011 #
Great books you published, especially Rhonda Rabbit! Let”s see how Rhonda gets away with it!
Comment by Cheryl Lim— May 3, 2011 #
Thanks Cheryl – I hope you’ve read the story now and know all the secrets!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 14, 2011 #
Hi Sarah Brennan,
Thank You for coming to my school!
I really enjoyed when you read the Year 4’s including me The Tale Of Rhonda Rabbit!
You are such a great Author!
All your books are fun, funny and exciting! I also love the illustrations that Harry Harrison’s does!
From Lucie (AISHK)
Comment by Lucie— May 4, 2011 #
Thanks Lucie – I really loved visiting AISHK – it’s one of my favourite schools!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 14, 2011 #
Hi Sarah Brennan!
I am writing a story called Dog Detective!
When I finished can i email the story to you?
If i can then what email do I send the story to?
Thanks
From Lucie Tolhoek! (AISHK)
Comment by Lucie— May 19, 2011 #
Hi Lucie – I’d love to see your story about a dog detective! What fun! Send it to sarah@auspicioustimes.com!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 19, 2011 #
is that the only lady up there
Comment by Cara— June 7, 2011 #
Dear Mrs. Brenan
I am realy looking forward twords the panda poetry competition!
You had a realy good idea for that one!
I adored your book Pin Yin panda!
You are my favourite author!
Caroline Wagner(WISS)
Comment by Caroline Wagner— March 2, 2012 #
Thanks so much Caroline! I’m looking forward to seeing your entry in my competition! Keep on writing! Sarah
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— March 6, 2012 #
Since I have looked at your books, website and order form, I have decided to be an author to! Now, I have made my own different website, books and order forms I would like to thank you for encouraging me to do this! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Comment by Alex— March 27, 2012 #
Hello Alex – I’m so delighted that I have had that effect on you! Best of luck with your new writing venture!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— April 20, 2012 #
Hi Sarah! can you tell me what the name is of your horse in the next book????????
Comment by sarahbrennan123— April 10, 2013 #
No I cannot!! My lips are sealed :)!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— April 22, 2013 #
sorry, my real name is Angel, i don’t know why they put this name. My mom used to tell me” just sit down and read a book, that is how you unlock the door to imagination
Comment by sarahbrennan123— April 10, 2013 #
Please tell your mum she’s absolutely right!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— April 22, 2013 #
hi sarah! thanks for visiting glenealy school yesterday! I loved your talk and you inspired me to write and read more books! Do you remember me? I took a photo with you yesterday, I was the one holding the panda!
Comment by Eugenie Ahn— April 17, 2013 #
Hi Eugenie – I do indeed remember the panda girl! I hope we can post that photo on my blog or website soon! I’m so glad you loved my talk and that you’ll be writing and reading more! Why don’t you enter my writing competition :)!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— April 17, 2013 #
Hi Sarah!
I think you remember coming to Glenealy School last week, I absolutely loved your new book! I’ve just entered my poem for the competition, I know it’s not good at all but you really inspired me to enter! I just saw the comment above, Eugenie is actually my best friend! I was the girl holding the bunny with phsycological problems in the picture with you, do you remember?
Comment by Cherise Leung— April 21, 2013 #
Yes I do indeed Cherise! I’m so glad you entered my competition! Keep up the good work!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— April 22, 2013 #
Hi Sarah!
You came to my school that is Sha tin Junior school Year 4!
Hillary is in my class, Class 4.2.Hillary is one of my BFFs! She writes books with her friends and I.
Comment by Tiana Ahuja— May 12, 2013 #
Hello Tiana – I had a great day at your school with you all in Year 4! It’s great that you’re a friend of Hillary’s! Why don’t you enter my Clever Competition too? Hope to see your entry soon!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 14, 2013 #
Hi Sarah! what is your favorite food + drink?? (just wondering) Mine is cheese and lemon teeeeeeeeeeeeee! they are just sssssimply ssssscrumptious! 🙂
Angel
Comment by sarahbrennan123— May 16, 2013 #
I think if I had to say just one food it would be…. dark chocolate!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 21, 2013 #
ooooh…. that’s a tricky food! did you know some dark chocolate has gold bits in it and one piece was worth $5,0000!
Oh and i prefer milk chocolate myself…. what is your favorite brand of choco?
Comment by sarahbrennan123— May 23, 2013 #
Just dark chocolate…any dark chocolate!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 30, 2013 #
I like Alexandra Adornetto’s books, because she a particularly good writer like you, Sarah and she wrote her book ‘The Shadow Thief’ when she was fourteen!
Comment by Stefanie— October 14, 2013 #
Thank you Stefanie for your very nice compliment. I haven’t read Alexandra Adornetto’s books so I’ll check them out asap! Thanks for sharing!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— October 15, 2013 #
Hello Sarah! You came to my school SASpuxi! I really admire your books and I am planning on entering your contests! I would like to write a book some day and hopefully get it published! Thank you!
Comment by Abby Nellis— October 29, 2013 #
Abby that’s fantastic – I look forward to seeing your entries in my competition soon!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— November 4, 2013 #
Hi and thank you for coming to our school today!
Comment by Cheryl-Ann Leung— February 13, 2014 #
You rock!
From Lindsay (you can call me Lindy)
Comment by Lindy— May 9, 2015 #
Thanks Lindy!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— May 18, 2015 #
Thanks for coming to Shatin Junior School today ! We loved your story . I think I will be joining your comps. Thx!!
Comment by Benedict Pang— March 7, 2016 #
Thanks to you too Benedict! It’s fans like you that make it all worth while!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— March 7, 2016 #
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for the wonderful time you spent with us (parents and children) at the Global Mentor session at Landmark Central yesterday. Mr son Justin Kwan (from Year 5 Quarry Bay School) and I enjoyed your lively workshop and we shall share with other parents about your book series.
Looking forward to read your new book Rickshaw Rooster !
Justin Kwan and Caroline Chow
Comment by Caroline Chow— March 9, 2017 #
Thank you so much Caroline and Justin – it was my great pleasure! I do hope to meet you again some day soon!
Comment by sarahbrennanblog— March 9, 2017 #