As a parent, Maurice Sendak’s post-Where The Wild Things Are interviews totally make me regret not reading my kids more Maurice Sendak books when they were little-little.

Back when Where the Wild Things Are was adapted for the screen, Sendak was asked about kids who might be scared by the film- and spoke what some parents might find refreshing words about bubble-wrapping kids for the big, scary world. Sendak said:

“If they can’t handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it’s not a question that can be answered… This concentration on kids being scared, as though we as adults can’t be scared. Of course we’re scared. I’m scared of watching a TV show about vampires. I can’t fall asleep. It never stops.”

The In The Night Kitchen and Chicken Soup With Rice author was asked again about the scaredy-cat issue when he released his newest work, a book called Bumble-Ardy. Unsurprisingly, Sendak was similarly unconcerned with whining parents, and said as much in post-publishing publicity.

Now the plain-spoken author is the subject of a new, short documentary from the Tate. In the piece, Sendak denies his work are “children’s books.” He says:

“How do you set out to write a children’s book? It’s a lie… The magic of childhood and the strangeness of childhood, the uniqueness that makes us see things that other people don’t see.”

When asked about sequels to Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak huffs:

“Go to hell … go to hell. I’m not a whore, I don’t do those things.”

Watch the full clip below, and another of the initial comments by Sendak in 2009 about Where the Wild Things Are:

Maurice Sendak in Short Documentary, Still a Badass is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kids’ writer Maurice Sendak- never one to parse words- is back with a book that has unsurprisingly gotten some flak from the overprotecting parents brigade.

Sendak most recently made news after the film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are was criticized by parents who felt the classic book- about a little boy who goes to bed (gasp!) with no dinner before becoming a “wild thing”- was too scary. Sendak rightly told the whining moms and dads to “go to hell,” eliciting a few more fevered upset from the apparent committee to pretend kids don’t love scary and edgy shit.

Sendak authored and illustrated In The Night Kitchen and The Nutshell Library, and is out with his first written and illustrated book in 30 years. Bumble-Ardy follows a nine-year-old pig and his quest to have the ultimate birthday party, having been deprived his whole life.

CSM describes a bit of the controversy:

At one point in “Bumble-Ardy”, Sendak introduces the Grim Reaper, not an image that every parent wants her children dwelling on as they go to sleep. One reviewer on Amazon.com wrote that “Bumble-Ardy” was a “disturbing book in so many ways.” Sendak sees it the other way around. It is parents who are scaredy cats, he argues, frightened to deal with the nightmarish fantasies and even murderous impulses with which children are familiar and which books such as “Alice in Wonderland” explore.

Sendak refers to other, popular and more milquetoast kids’ fare that he says he isn’t against- but he consciously acknowledges he’s bucking the trend:

“It’s not a putdown of those earlier books. But basically, they went by the rules that children should be safe and that we adults should be their guardians. I got out of that, and I was considered outlandish. So be it.”

It would be kind of cool if all the parents who find it a bigger crime our kids might never be exposed to Maurice Sendak books got together and formed some kind of outrage group, but I think that particular demographic too busy living their lives and teaching their children actual useful things to have time for such a ridiculous venture.

Maurice Sendak Defends ‘Scary’ New Book is a post from: The Inquisitr

Maurice Sendak is a popular children’s author who is probably most well known for his work, “Where The Wild Things Are,” a book that tells the story of Max and his “wild” imagination.

What people don’t know however, is that prior to becoming a famous writer, Sendak worked mainly as an illustrator creating masterpieces that few people have ever heard of. Thanks to the awesome group of gals at babble.com, all that is about to change.

According to blogger Rebecca Odes, the following three books are must haves for every children’s bookcase.

1) I Want To Paint My Bathroom Blue

This dreamy book, written by once popular and currently under-appreciated children’s book author Ruth Krauss, is a fantasy of kid power with awareness of adult boundaries. Sendak’s watery watercolors add to the poetry.

2) How Little Lori Visited Times Square

A small boy decides to go to Times Square and takes matters into his own hands, attempting various means of transport with limited success. The book has an ambiguous ending which is uncharacteristic of modern media for kids. This was my son’s favorite book for a long time. It has all the freedom of Where the Wild Things Are…without the monsters.

3) Mr. Rabbit and The Lovely Present

Sendak’s watercolors here are remarkably beautiful. The look of this book really appeals to my kids, as does the fantastical story about a girl who encounters a talking, bipedal rabbit in a dappled forest. Though the look is much more “pretty” than Sendak’s own books, it’s easy to see the beginnings of Max and Sendak’s later characters in this little girl’s squat physique and facial expressions.

Book Reviews via Rebecca Odes of Babble

3 Maurice Sendak Books You Should Buy is a post from: The Inquisitr

In the war against whiny-pants parents who think the new, highly anticipated film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are might be too scary for some children, author Maurice Sendak isn’t pulling any punches.

There have been rumblings over whether the film may be too scary for kids with delicate sensibilities and Sendak, Spike Jonze (who directed) and Dave Eggers (who adapted the film and is partially responsible for the awesome Superhero Supply Store in Brooklyn) sat down with Newsweek to discuss the movie. Childhood used to be a messy, loud and unpredictable affair, and as culture becomes increasingly watered down for “the children,” those who remember a less sanitized world for children lament the worldwide childproofing that seems to be occurring. Sendak seems to agree.

The iconic children’s author spoke his mind to Newsweek about the detrimental effects of too much Disney and parents who might feel trepidation about whether Where The Wild Things Are is appropriate for their snowflakes:

What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?

Sendak: I would tell them to go to hell. That’s a question I will not tolerate.

Because kids can handle it?

Sendak: If they can’t handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it’s not a question that can be answered.

Jonze: Dave, you want to field that one?

Eggers: The part about kids wetting their pants? Should kids wear diapers when they go to the movies? I think adults should wear diapers going to it, too. I think everyone should be prepared for any eventuality.

Sendak: I think you’re right. This concentration on kids being scared, as though we as adults can’t be scared. Of course we’re scared. I’m scared of watching a TV show about vampires. I can’t fall asleep. It never stops. We’re grown-ups; we know better, but we’re afraid.

Why is that important in art?

Sendak: Because it’s truth. You don’t want to do something that’s all terrifying. I saw the most horrendous movies that were unfit for child’s eyes. So what? I managed to survive.

Maurice Sendak says scaredy-cat parents can “go to hell” is a post from: The Inquisitr

The trailer for the much anticipated Spike Jonze adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are has been released.

The film, based on Maurice Sendak children’s book of the same name focuses on the imaginary adventures of a young boy named Max, who is angry after being sent to his room without supper. He then creates a forest inhabited by many large imaginary monsters, who crown him their ruler. He then befriends a large monster called Carol, who helps him understand the meaning of love.

Filmed in Melbourne, Australia, Where The Wild Things Are stars Catherine Keener, Max Records, James Gandolfini, Angus Sampson, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O’Hara and Paul Dano and is due for release in October 2009.

Here’s the Where the Wild Things Are Trailer:

Where The Wild Things Are Trailer Released is a post from: The Inquisitr