You tell them anything you want

Some people have special callings in life. They have things they are meant to do while here on earth not just to benefit their own lives, but the lives of many others. I believe Maurice Sendak was one of those people.

Let me tell you a little about Mr. Sendak.

He was a man who had no children of his own. A man who had a lonely, sickly childhood. Who wanted to tell stories but didn't know how to do it correctly with only words. Who was plagued by the idea of death and tormented by the idea of living. Who admired his own brother and sister more than anyone else on earth. Who died last Tuesday.

In 1963 he wrote and illustrated "Where The Wild Things Are," a book about a boy, Max, who is sent up to his room for misbehaving. Children's literature would never be the same. I actually know people who dislike the book. They say they don't get it. Max just seems like a spoiled brat. They're right. They don't get it.

Maurice Sendak didn't simply write stories for children. He wrote children's stories.

Here is a great quote of his I recently heard in a short documentary piece about his life. He states:

“I think what I offered was different . . . because I was more honest than anybody. In the discussion of children and the lives of children and the fantasies of children and the language of children I said anything I wanted. Because I don't believe in children. I don't believe in childhood. I don't believe that there's a demarcation. 'Oh you mustn't tell them that. You mustn't tell them that.' You tell them anything you want. Just tell them if it's true. If it's true you tell them.”

Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Sendak.