Emily Fardoux Prof. Debra Mitts-Smith LIS 719 099 S ri!

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M%&'I(E SE)D%*+ ), ,)E E-E' .,LD ME (/ILD/,,D 0%S S&(/ % D%M) SE'I,&S 1&SI)ESS

.'&./S P'E-I,&SL2 (,)SIDE'ED 0he! I 3as you!"er4 I hated Mauri5e Se!da67s i!di8idual 3or6s. Where the Wild Things Are 93hi5h4 after thi!6i!" about it4 mi"ht be the o!ly o!e of his boo6s I 3as ex osed to outside of the Nutshell Library: s5ared me - !ot be5ause of the mo!strous 3ild thi!"s4 but be5ause his illustratio!s as a 3hole u!!er8ed me for reaso!s I 5a!7t really ex lai! a!d do!7t fully remember. %s a you!" fa! of Else /olmelu!d Mi!ari64 I !e8er 6!e3 that the illustratio!s i! the boo6s I so lo8ed 9No Fighting No Biting a!d Little Bear: 3ere e!!ed by a ma! 3hose other 3or6s I so disli6ed. % fe3 years a"o4 3he! %L% had the tra8eli!" Se!da6 exhibit4 I "roa!ed 3he! it 5ame to my library - e8erythi!" be5ame 5om letely Se!da6-fo5used for a 3hile4 a!d I ;ust 5ould!7t "et i!to it. /is u!!er8i!" illustratio!s 3ere e8ery3here< ,! the "ra!d o e!i!" day of the exhibit4 the S i6e =o!>e do5ume!tary Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Senda 3as layi!" i! the lobby. E8ery time I 3al6ed ast it4 it seemed li6e I7d hear Se!da6 sayi!" somethi!" e8e! "rum ier that made me disli6e him more a!d more.

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.o3ard the e!d of the exhibit7s ru!4 it 5ame to the ,a6 Par6 Publi5 Library4 a!d my ad8isor4 =a!i5e Del )e"ro 3ho I 3as 3or6i!" for as a "rad assista!t at the time4 3as i!8ited to s ea6 about his illustratio!s as art of the library7s a5ti8ities surrou!di!" the exhibit. I be5ame i!u!dated 3ith Se!da6 i! the 5omi!" 3ee6s4 hel i!" =a!i5e resear5h a!d re are for her rese!tatio!. I s e!t se8eral hours re?uesti!" ea5h a!d e8ery boo6 Se!da6 e8er 5o!tributed to from the i-Share !et3or6. 0e 3ere lu56y to "et 5o ies of his rarer boo6s - es e5ially his first e!tra!5e i!to illustratio! for boo6s4 Atomics for the Millions4 a hysi5s textboo6. Loo6i!" throu"h these ma!y4 many boo6s 3ith =a!i5e4 ho3e8er4 s6immi!" a!d earmar6i!" a"es for her i! boo6s I 3ould later fully read for this assi"!me!t4 I be"a! to 5ha!"e my mi!d. I be"a! to see that there 3ere reaso!s Se!da67s 3or6s u!!er8ed me. I be"a! to lear! about the i5ture boo6 master ie5e that is Where the Wild Things Are4 a!d I be5ame i!s ired by Se!da67s hiloso hies a!d his "ift4 as his rime bio"ra her Selma La!es 3ould say4 of @"etti!" be!eath the surfa5e of thi!"s a!d re8eali!" truths re8iously 5o!sidered beyo!d the ro8i!5e or ro riety of you!" 5hildre!7s boo6sA 9B0:. 0he! I be"a! to thi!6 about ossible to i5s for this resear5h a er4 I 3a!ted to i56 u 3hat I started last year 3ith =a!i5e4 a!d try to fi"ure out 3hy Se!da6 3as so re ulsi8e to me as a 5hild4 a!d attra5ti8e as a! adult. %s I be"a! resear5hi!" him4 I be5ame more a!d more i!s ired by the late authorCillustrator4 a!d thou"h I remai! u!!er8ed by his illustratio!s a bit4 my i!-de th study of his moti8es a!d thou"ht ro5esses4 5ombi!ed 3ith

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disse5tio! of the boo6 I hated so mu5h as a 5hild 5reated a "ood lau!5hi!" ad for this a er.

% P%SSI,) F,' S.,'IES Mauri5e Se!da6 3as bor! i! 1roo6ly! i! 19#D to Polish immi"ra!ts Sarah a!d Phili Se!da64 3ith a! older brother4 =a564 fi8e years his elder4 a!d a sister4 )atalie4 !i!e years older. Se!da6 3as ro!e to ill!esses duri!" his 5hildhood. %t the time4 there 3ere !o 8a55i!es or medi5i!es for these ill!esses4 a!d 5hildre! 3ho 5au"ht them 3ere se!te!5ed to bed rest u!til a full re5o8eryE Se!da6 ofte! s e!t 3ee6s at a time 5o!fi!ed to his bed. /is father 3ould sit by his bedside a!d tell stories to 6ee you!" Mauri5e e!tertai!ed4 ofte! fri"hte!i!" o!es. Mauri5e 3ould also ma6e u stories of his o3! 3hile loo6i!" out his bedroom 3i!do3 at the other 5hildre! li8i!" !ormal 5hildhoods4 a!d s e!t hours a!d hours s6et5hi!" these s5e!es - both real a!d ima"i!ed. It is here that Se!da6 Fmet7 the !ei"hborhood "irl he 5alled 'osie4 3hose laytime a!ti5s later i!s ired some of his most o ular 3or6s. .hrou"h this time of ill!ess4 Se!da6 lear!ed the im orta!5e of loo6i!" throu"h o!e7s o3! 3i!do3 to the 3orld outside4 a!d of the stre!"th of i!!er fa!tasy to 6ee o!es frustratio!s a!d a!"er at bay. 0i!do3s are o!e of the tro es fou!d i! Se!da67s i5ture boo6s4 a!d oddly e!ou"h4 ro8ided the im etus for meeti!" his future editor. %s a! adult4 Se!da6 ofte! tal6ed about his o3! 5hildhood4 a time of his life still felt4 li8ed4 a!d ima"i!ed i! his

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adulthood. 1oth his 3riti!" a!d illustratio!s 5ome from that art of him that 5ould a55ess 3hat 5hildre! so !eedE Se!da67s su55ess 5omes from his ability to 6ee @ali8e the 5hild he 3as i! the adult he is !o3A 9*ush!er 11:. %56!o3led"eme!t of o!e7s i!!er 5hild may !ot seem li6e su5h a diffi5ult tas6 for most adults4 a!d erha s it is !ot G but 3ith Se!da6 5omes both re5o"!itio! a!d u!dersta!di!" of 5hildhood from both a! adult ers e5ti8e a!d a 5hild7s. Mo8ies ro8ided a se5o!d sour5e of e!tertai!me!t a!d es5a e for the si56ly Mauri5e - his family made 3ee6ly tri s to the theatre4 3hi5h he 3as allo3ed to "o o! e8e! 3he! bedridde!. /ere is 3here his lo8e of the sta"e a!d 8isual e!tertai!me!t - es e5ially 0alt Dis!ey - be"a!. Se!da67s first ;ob out of hi"h s5hool 3as for a 5om a!y that de5orated 3i!do3 dis lays for )e3 2or6 (ity de artme!t stores - shortly after this4 he mo8ed out of his are!ts7 house to a! a artme!t of his o3! - 3here he s e!t his do3!time loo6i!" out his o3! 3i!do3 a!d s6et5hi!"4 ;ust as he did as a 5hild. /e a!d his older brother4 =a564 s e!t a lot of time to"ether desi"!i!" toys - lar"e4 5om li5ated 3oode! me5ha!i5al 5hara5ters from fairy tales. .he air brou"ht a series of the toys to sell to F.%.,. S5h3ar>4 but the toyma6ers there felt the me5ha!i5al 5hara5ters 3ere mu5h too 5om lex to mass rodu5e i! 3ood - a!d the Se!da6 brothers 3ould !ot allo3 their 5reatio!s to be 5o!8erted to lasti5s. Mauri5e 3as4 ho3e8er4 offered a ;ob desi"!i!" 3i!do3 dis lays ex5lusi8ely there4 i! the style of the toys he a!d his brother 5reated.

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Duri!" his days at F.%.,. S5h3ar>4 Se!da6 3ould ofte! ore o8er their exte!si8e 5hildre!7s boo6 5olle5tio! for sale - admiri!" the boo6ma6i!" a!d illustratio!s he sa3. It 3as throu"h his lo8e of this se5tio! of the store that he 3as i!trodu5ed to his future editor4 &rsula )ordstrom. She as6ed o!e day to see his s6et5hboo6s4 im ressed 3ith his 3i!do3 art a!d his i!terest i! 5hildre!7s boo6s. .he 8ery !ext day4 she tele ho!ed him to offer him a ;ob illustrati!" a 5olle5tio! of stories by Fre!5h author Mar5el %ymH. .he boo6 3as 5alled The Wonderful Farm a!d it 3as to be Se!da67s first offi5ial 5hildre!7s illustrati!" ;ob. )ordstrom remai!ed Se!da67s editor for the rest of his 5areer. %fter illustrati!" se8eral i5ture boo6s for others4 i!5ludi!" the 3ildly su55essful A !ole is to "ig4 3ritte! by 'uth *rauss4 Se!da6 be"a! i! ear!est to thi!6 about illustrati!" a!d 3riti!" a story of his o3!. .he im ressi8ely 5om lex a!d layered boo6 that resulted 3as 5alled #enny$s Windo%4 about a you!" boy7s dream of a fabulous la!d 3here he7d li6e to li8e4 a!d hear6e!ed ba56 to Se!da67s o3! days as a 5hild moored to his o3! bedroom 3i!do34 eeri!" throu"h it to a fa!tasy outside. *e!!y be5ame a sort of rototy e for ma!y of the 5hildre! a eari!" i! Se!da67s texts4 3ho @are held ba56 by

life4 but4 o!e 3ay or a!other4 ma!a"e mira5ulously to fi!d release from their troublesA 9La!es B$:. I! 3riti!" about the boo64 he des5ribed his desire to @sho3 ho3 a 5hild 5ould ta6e 5o!trol of his o3! dreams a!d ho3 5hildre! ofte! try to mer"e a ma6e-belie8e 3orld 3ith the real 3orldA 9Mar5o8it> $$:. .his mer"er a!d 5hildhood ability is to be the fo5us of this a er. Ma!y 9if !ot most: of Se!da67s boo6s s otli"ht this ty e of dreamy 5hild as a mai!
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5hara5ter4 aired 3ith a fa!tasti5al lot i! 3hi5h that 5hara5ter must o8er5ome some emotio!al 5halle!"e before that dreami!ess a!d fa!tasy restores reality. Se!da6 himself felt his @most u!usual "iftA 9La!es #JI: 3as this ability to re5reate the emotio!s of 5hildhood throu"h the marria"e of his 3ords a!d text.

I)('EDI1LE FLEKI1ILI.2 Mauri5e Se!da67s boo6s4 des ite bei!" 3ildly 5riti5i>ed for stri6i!" fear i!to 5hildre! throu"h terrible Wild Things& a!d i!s iri!" disobedie!5e a!d 3ild beha8ior throu"h the same boo64 may a5tually u!dersta!d 5hildre! best of all. Se!da6 o!5e 5omme!ted+ (hildre! do !ot li8e i! both fa!tasy a!d realityE they mo8e ba56 a!d forth 3ith ease4 i! a 3ay that LadultsM !o lo!"er remember ho3 to do. %!d i! 3riti!" for 5hildre! I al3ays assume that they ha8e this i!5redible flexibility4 this 5ool se!se of the lo"i5 or illo"i54 a!d that they 5a! mo8e 3ith me from o!e s here to the other 3ithout a!y roblems 9Mar5o8it> $$:. Ima"i!atio! a!d fa!tasy4 fa5t a!d reality are im orta!t 5o!trasts 3ithi! Se!da67s 3or64 arti5ularly i! Where the Wild Things Are' .his text u!dersta!ds a 5hild7s ability to fluidly mo8e bet3ee! 3hat is real a!d 3hat is ima"i!ed4 to 5o!sta!tly ex lore4 mo8e4 a!d belie8e - but al3ays retur! ba56

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to their o3! bedrooms. .hrou"h the a5tio!s of Max7s 5hara5ter4 Wild Things demo!strates this me!tal elasti5ity. .he real 3orld of Max7s sim le4 timeless home is i!itially disru ted by the 3eari!" of his 3olf suit 9i!itial im li5atio! bei!" that4 o! other !i"hts4 3ithout the suit4 Max7s mis5hief is !ot ?uite so terrible:. 0he! his lay is disru ted by a! off-sta"e mother4 Max bri!"s his 3ild lay 3orld to 5om lete forefro!t4 usi!" it to defle5t the a!"er he feels at his de!ial of 5o!ti!ued fu! - a!d of 5ourse4 his su er. .his mo8eme!t4 as 3ill shortly be u! a56ed4 is a!

u!5o!s5ious o!e for Max. Max be"i!s his e8e!i!" i! his 3olf suit4 !aili!" to the 3all a ma6eshift 5lothesli!e 3ith a bed sheet or bla!6et dra ed o8er it4 a defia!t s5o3l o! his fa5e. Mis5hief @of o!e 6i!d a!d a!other4A erha s s a3!ed by the 3eari!" of his 3olf suit4 5o!ti!ues o! the !ext a"e as Max a!imatedly a!d 3i56edly 5hases his do" do3! the stairs 3ith a for64 !o doubt to eat her u - a 5o!5e t re8isited i! this i5ture boo6 as 3ell as others of Se!da67s. %s the o e!i!" se!te!5e of the i5ture boo6 5omes to a 5lose4 Max is labeled a @0ILD ./I)NA by his mother a!d @se!t to bed 3ithout eati!" a!ythi!".A Max a!"rily sta!ds i! his s arsely de5orated bedroom4 "lari!" at the shut door a!d the ster! mother behi!d it4 a!d his mo8e to fa!tasy be"i!s. ,! the 8ery !ext a"e4 @a forest "re34A 3hile Max7s defia!t eyes are 5losed4 a 3a! ex ressio! resti!" o! his fa5e. .ur!i!" the a"e4 Max "i""les to himself4 3olf tail 5urli!" a!d left foot ex5itedly o i!" i!to the air4

5o!te!tly ex5ited as he dista!5es himself from a!"er - both his o3! a!d his mother7s. %s the forest of Max7s ima"i!atio! 5o!ti!ues to "ro3 after the third

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a"e tur!4 his ex ressio! "ro3s e8e! more "leeful a!d !o!5hala!t4 i!!er 3ild!ess fully re la5i!" a!d ta6i!" o8er his a!"er. %s he sli s 5om letely i!to fa!tasy4 the full moo! outside shri!6s to a 5res5e!t a!d stare bli!6 i!to existe!5e4 bedroom 3alls a!d fur!iture fadi!" 5om letely i!to the forest of Max7s ima"i!atio!. 0hile this tra!sformatio! ta6es la5e4 Max7s eyes are 5om letely 5losed4 s5ru!5hed ti"ht 3ith the ;oy of retur!i!" to his 3ild!ess. .he forest i! his bedroom "ro3s a!d "ro3s u!til @his 5eili!" hu!" 3ith 8i!es a!d the 3alls be5ame the 3orld all arou!dA - here Max fi!ally tur!s arou!d4 as his fa!tasy !ears 5om letio! a!d his ex5iteme!t ea6s. .he im orta!t disti!5tio! from other 3or6s of fa!tasy for 5hildre! here is that Max does !ot stumble u o! this fa!tasy 3orldE rather4 it 5omes from 3ithi! him4 5omi!" to him duri!" his time of u set at ba!ishme!t from fu!4 3ithout su er. Mo8i!" dee er a!d dee er i!to the 3ild realm4 @a! o5ea! tumbled by 3ith a ri8ate boat for Max a!d he sailed off throu"h !i"ht a!d day.A 0he! Max boards this small red sailboat4 his fa5e tur!s to us 3ith eyes o e! for the first time si!5e he 3as a!"rily se!t to his room. .his i!di5ates that he is !o lo!"er ima"i!i!" - this is !o3 his reality. ,! his ;our!ey to the la!d of the 3ild thi!"s4 Max7s o5ea! be5omes more a!d more turbule!t4 boat ro56i!"4 his eyes 3ide!i!" a!d 3olf tail 5urli!" - a 3ild thi!" a ears off the ster! a!d

Max fli!"s his arms u to rote5t himself. 0he! he tou5hes do3! o! the shore @3here the 3ild thi!"s are4A a!d meets his first "rou of 3ild thi!"s4 the text des5ribes them as terrible4 fearsome 3ith roari!" a!d "!ashi!" of teeth a!d 5la3s. 1ut Max easily tames them a!d is de5lared @the most 3ild thi!" of allA be5ause of this - iro!i5ally by stari!" i!to the yello3 eyes of the
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3ild thi!"s u!bli!6i!"4 5alm4 a!d motio!less. E8e! i! the s a5e of his fa!tasy4 da!"er exists - but Max is al3ays able to rote5t himself. Max7s ride at this !e3 mo!i6er is e8ide!t o! the !ext a"e i! his sta!5e4 the roud furro3 i! his eyebro3s4 a!d the 5url of his 3olf tail - i! the real 3orld he 3ould !e8er be re3arded for his 3ild!ess4 o!ly u!ished4 as 3e sa3 i! the be"i!!i!" of the story. I! Max7s fa!tasy he is re8ered a!d re3arded for his 3ild!ess a!d for bei!" himselfE he is made 6i!" of all. %s he sits o! to of a small hill 3ith a 5ro3! a!d 6i!"ly s5e ter4 the 3ild thi!"s bo3 a!d fa3! a!d 5las their ha!ds re8ere!tly4 some 5lamori!" behi!d trees to see their !e3 6i!". 0hat 5hild7s fa!tasy 3ould !ot i!5lude su5h immediate4 u!3a8eri!" lo8e a!d de8otio!O It is at this oi!t that Max de5lares4 @Let the 3ild rum us be"i!<A a!d for the !ext three s reads i! the boo64 he is allo3ed to be5ome 3hat his mother 3ould !ot allo3 G a 5om lete a!d total 0ILD ./I)N. For these three s reads4 Max is allo3ed to da!5e u!der the moo!4 ho3li!" "leefully i! his 3olf suit4 to freely s3i!" from the trees4 a!d to arade about i! a ro5essio! ho!ori!" his rule. .here is !o mother fi"ure4 o! or offsta"e to tell Max he is too 3ild a!d !eeds to settle do3!. /e is i! 5om lete 5o!trol of his o3! rum us a!d his o3! 3ild!ess. %!d yet4 as the three s reads 5o!5lude4 Max4 5ha!!eli!" the a5tio!s of his o3! mother4 tells the 3ild thi!"s they must sto 4 @a!d se!t the 3ild thi!"s off to bed 3ithout their su er.A Max sits i! his royal te!t4 head i! ha!d4 ex ressio! "lum4 a!d as the 3ild thi!"s fall aslee amo!"st the trees4 @Max the 6i!" of all 3ild thi!"s 3as lo!ely a!d 3a!ted to be 3here someo!e lo8ed him best of all.A E8e! thou"h

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Max 3as de5lared 6i!" of the 3ild thi!"s4 a!d 3as ob8iously lo8ed a!d adored by the 5reatures4 their fa!tasti5al lo8e 3as !ot ?uite the same as the lo8e from his mother. %s Max lo!"s for this4 lo!ely i! his te!t4 @from far a3ay a5ross the 3orld he smelled "ood thi!"s to eat so he "a8e u bei!" 6i!" of 3here the 3ild thi!"s areA to retur! ba56 to his o3! reality. 'etur!i!" to his bedroom i! his red sailboat is ;ust the re8erse of Max7s arri8al G as he be"i!s to sail a3ay4 the 3ild thi!"s roar a!d "!ash a!d flare their tem ers at Max7s aba!do!me!t of them 9;ust as they did 3he! he arri8ed:. Saili!" ba564 it is !i"httime o8er the o5ea!4 Max rests his 6i!"ly ha!ds o! the ro3 of the boat4 3olf ears re"ally oi!ted4 a!d eyes shut a"ai! as he mo8es from fa!tasy to reality. 0he! Max retur!s to his bedroom4 !o tra5e of the 3ild forest remai!s a!d4 relie8ed of his a!"er at his mother4 Max sli s off the hood of his 3olf suit a!d @fou!d his su hot.A er 3aiti!" for him G a!d it 3as still

1E2,)D 0/%. IS %PP%'E). 0he! 5reati!" a i5ture boo64 Se!da6 al3ays be"a! 3ith the 3ords. ,!5e those are set4 a!d the textual story 5om lete4 he mo8ed o! to the illustratio!s. I! this 3ay4 he mai!tai!ed 5om lete i!de e!de!5e of 3ords a!d ima"es+ %rt must ad8a!5e as ra idly as musi5E it should!7t remai! stati5. %rtists must try to "et a3ay from realism4 be5ause hoto"ra hy

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5a! "i8e us all the a55ura5y a!d detail 3e 3a!t. I!stead4 3e should drift !ear ex ressio!ism4 3here erso!al feeli!"s a!d ure emotio! are ut to 3or6. %rtists ha8e more ori"i!alityE see beyo!d 3hat is a are!t 9La!es #I:.

Des ite u!dersta!di!" the fluidity of fa!tasy a!d reality4 Se!da67s illustratio!s i! Wild Things 5learly yet subtly deli!eate bet3ee! the t3o realms. Ma!y i!sta!5es of these disti!5tio!s are subtle !ua!5es i! the art3or6 foreshado3i!" the shifts - a 5hildish dra3i!" of a 3ild thi!" hu!" o! the 3all i! the s5e!e 3here Max 5hases his do" do3! the stairsE the irre"ular hasi!" of the moo! outside Max7s 3i!do3 a!d i! the forestE the !e"ati8e s a5e o! ea5h s read. I! ta!dem 3ith Max7s e!tra!5e i!to the fa!tasy 3orld4 3hite s a5e surrou!di!" Se!da67s illustratio!s retreats further a!d further as fa!tasy a roa5hes. %s his bedroom "ro3s more a!d more i!to the 3ild

forest of Max7s ima"i!atio!4 so shri!6s the 3hite frame arou!d the illustratio!. Lea8es be"i! to ush their 3ay out of the s a5e4 ?uietly exiti!" that !eat re5ta!"le. %s the first se!te!5e of the story 5o!5ludes4 the 3hite s a5e 5om letely disa ears from the ri"ht a"e - trees a!d lea8es e8e!

ex lodi!" o!to three ?uarters of the left a"e re8iously reser8ed for text. 0he! Max @5ame to the la5e 3here the 3ild thi!"s are4A the s read shifts hori>o!tally4 the 3ild thi!"s bursti!" o!to both a"es 3ith a ?uarter of the a"e left 3hite for the text. .he 3ild thi!"s ta6e o8er the s reads e!tirely duri!" the rest of their rese!5e i! the boo6. Max is 5ro3!ed 6i!" of the 3ild thi!"s4 lea8i!" hardly a!y room for text as his 3ild!ess be5omes

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more a!d more domi!a!t. %fter he de5lares a state of rum us4 the 3hite s a5e 5om letely disa ears. Duri!" these a"es4 Max7s eyes are a"ai! shut

ti"ht4 but he is i! the 5e!ter of ea5h s read4 his 3hite 3olf suit sta!di!" out as he arties 3ith the 3ild thi!"s. .he 3hite s a5e a!d text retur!s duri!" Max7s home5omi!" i! the same ma!!er as its disa eara!5eE a!d the 8ery

last s read of the boo6 has !o illustratio! at all G i!di5ati!" Max7s 5om lete rei!te"ratio! to reality. Most im orta!t about Se!da67s illustratio!s i! Wild Things is their i!de e!de!5e from the text4 telli!" the lar"er story a!d addi!" more detail tha! the less tha! $I0 3ords of Max7s !i"ht. /e belie8ed that @to be a! illustrator is to be a arti5i a!t4 someo!e 3ho has somethi!" e?ually im orta!t to offer as the 3riter of the boo6 - o55asio!ally somethi!" more im orta!t - but 5ertai!ly !e8er the 3riter7s e5hoA 9La!es B7:. .hou"h this stateme!t 3as made i! re"ards to his 3or6 as a! illustrator for already3ritte! boo6s4 it a lies erfe5tly to the 5urre!t dis5ussio! of Wild Things.

.he illustratio!s e5ho the s arse but o3erful text o!ly mildly4 rather arti5i ati!" i! the story 3holly o! their o3!. .his is lar"ely e8ide!t i! the i!itial ortrayal of the 3ild thi!"s.

1,'',0ED M,)S.E'S Wild Things did!7t al3ays star mo!sters. 0he! Se!da6 3as i!itially 5reati!" the idea for the boo64 it 3as a lo!"4 thi!4 ribbo!-li6e boo6 - about a! i!5h tall by six or se8e! i!5hes 3ide4 a!d about $J a"es - 3ith a mu5h more

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5om li5ated story4 5alled Where the Wild !orses Are. .he differe!5es bet3ee! the t3o boo6s are disti!5t4 most si"!ifi5a!tly i! the ;our!ey to a!d from the la5e of the 3ild horses P 3ild thi!"s. .he 5ha!"e from horses to things 3as a! amusi!" o!e - Se!da6 reali>ed he 3as 8ery oor at dra3i!" horses+ ,ri"i!ally4 I did!7t 3a!t them to be 3ild Fthi!"s7E I 3a!ted them to be 3ild horses. I! fa5t the ori"i!al title 3as Where the Wild !orses Are' .he dilemma arose 3he! it be5ame ob8ious that I 5ould!7t dra3 horses. So I had to thi!6 of somethi!" I could dra3. 1e5ause the truth about the 5reati8e ro5ess is that it7s a hardli!e4 !itty-"ritty busi!ess of 3hat you 5a! a!d 5a!!ot do - 3hat your limitatio!s are as a! artist. I tried to use mo!sters from the a!ti?ue 3orld - "riffi!s a!d other su5h 5reatures. 1ut they 3ere!7t satisfa5tory be5ause they did!7t 5ome out of meE they 3ere borro3ed mo!sters 9Se!da6:. Se!da6 later ex lai!ed that as soo! as he be"a! to dra3 the 3ild thi!"s4 he re5o"!i>ed his =e3ish au!ts a!d u!5les a!d dista!t 5ousi!s 3ho 3ould al3ays 5ome to 8isit o! Su!days for di!!er. .hese relati8es u!!er8ed a!d fri"hte!ed the you!" Se!da6 a!d his sibli!"s4 5o!sta!tly i!5hi!" their 5hee6s a!d sayi!" thi!"s li6e @2ou7re so 5ute I 5ould eat you u < 9La!es DD:A Perha s 3e all re5o"!i>e a little bit of our o3! relati8es i! the 3ild thi!"s -

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a!d 3hy they are!7t so s5ary as ma!y ma6e them out to be 9or4 erha s4 3hy they are:. 0he! Max first e!5ou!ters the 3ild thi!"s4 the text im lies that they are fearsome 5reatures G @they roared their terrible roars a!d "!ashed their terrible teeth a!d rolled their terrible eyes a!d sho3ed their terrible 5la3s.A 0ithout the 8isuals of these 5reatures4 o!e they 3ould seem fri"hte!i!" G about to eat Max u for i!trudi!" o! their domai!. /o3e8er4 if o!e loo6s 5losely at the 5reatures4 their roari!" a!d "!ashi!" a!d rolli!" seems to be sho3i!" their 5uriosity to3ard Max. ,!ly o!e of the 3ild thi!"s 9the o!e 5losest to Max himself: loo6s arti5ularly terrible or fearsome. .he other 3ild thi!"s are !ot bari!" their teeth4 they ha8e o8erbites4 a!d their 3ide 3ild eyes are merely 5urious. .heir flu!"-u arms are i! "reeti!" rather tha! atta564 a!d des ite the fearsome tem er the text of the s5e!e im lies that they ha8e4 the bei!"s seem to be ;ust 5urious at the !e3 arri8al to their shores. Max sho3s them 3ho is i! 5o!trol4 sayi!" @ F1E S.ILL<7 a!d tamed them 3ith the ma"i5 tri56 of stari!" i!to all their yello3 eyes 3ithout bli!6i!" o!5e a!d they 3ere fri"hte!ed a!d 5alled him the most 3ild thi!" of all.A Max is able to tame them 3ith his ma"i5 tri56 be5ause he has!7t 5ome o!to their shore G it7s his fa!tasy4 a!d his shore4 a!d his 3ild thi!"s4 so of 5ourse he is the 3ildest thi!" of all i! his 3olf suit. More 5losely exami!i!" the more a!d more 3ild thi!"s i!trodu5ed i!to the story4 mo!strous features be5ome 5urious rather tha! fearsome. Max4 sitti!" o! a little hill 3ith his 3ild thi!" 5ro3! a!d s5e ter4 loo6s do3! o! his sub;e5ts 3ith 6i!"ly eyes 5losed4 a!d

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3olf tail relaxed. .he 3ild thi!"s bo3 to him4 a!d fa3! o8er him4 5las i!" their a3s re8ere!tly4 some 5lamori!" behi!d the trees to see their 6i!". 0hether or !ot a 5hild re5o"!i>es the huma! ?ualities Se!da6 ut i!to these 5reaturesE 3hether or !ot they re5o"!i>e their o3! relati8es4 5hildre! 5a! see the huma! ?ualities of the 3ild thi!"s. .hou"h ma!y libraria!s4 are!ts4 a!d 5riti5s ha8e 5alled Wild Things too fri"hte!i!" for 5hildre!4 Se!da6 himself felt that 5hildre! 5ould determi!e the boo67s a ro riate!ess themsel8es+ If a 6id does!7t li6e a boo64 thro3 it a3ay. (hildre! do!7t "i8e a dam! about a3ards. 0hy should theyO 0e should let 5hildre! 5hoose their o3! boo6s. 0hat they do!7t li6e they 3ill toss aside. 0hat disturbs them too mu5h they 3ill !ot loo6 at. %!d if they loo6 at the 3ro!" boo64 it is!7t "oi!" to do them that mu5h dama"e. 0e treat 5hildre! i! a 8ery e5uliar 3ay4 I thi!6. 0e do!7t treat them li6e the stro!" 5reatures they really are 9La!es 10J-7:. % 3ild 5hild li6e Max4 readi!" Wild Things4 3ill see the mo!sters for that they really are G huma!li6e4 3ith their o3! fears a!d emotio!s a!d !eeds. .his is ?uite the o osite of 3hat ma!y 5riti5s feel ha e!s to a 5hild readi!"

the boo6. Perha s as a 5hild4 I 3as fri"hte!ed by the 3ild thi!"s a!d u!!er8ed by the story itself be5ause I 3as not really a 5hild 3ho !eeded to see that 3ild!ess 3as erfe5tly a55e table. 1ut4 as Se!da6 belie8es4 a 5hild

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3ho did !eed that sort of messa"e "ra8itated to the boo64 erfe5tly 5a able of u!dersta!di!" the messa"e that Se!da6 left 3ithi! the text.

.ELL ./EM %)2./I)N 2,& 0%). Se!da6 belie8ed 5hildre! are !ot "i8e! the 5redit they deser8e - they are too ofte! loo6ed do3! u o!4 too ofte! treated as u!able to a55om lish thi!"s4 too ofte! !ot "i8e! 5ha!5es to do4 to see4 to feel4 or - most im orta!tly - to read. @I do!7t belie8e i! 5hildhood. I do!7t belie8e that there7s a demar5atio!... 2ou tell them a!ythi!" you 3a!t. =ust tell them if it7s trueA 9,8erby:. .he rese!5e of terrible mo!sters4 fre?ue!t refere!5es to bei!" eate! ali8e4 a!d !ear-5o!sta!t mother-dam!i!" mis5hie8ous!ess has raised 5riti5al eyebro3s - ma!y hi"h e!ou"h to attem t to ba! the boo6. Wild Things4 ho3e8er4 is a! ex5elle!t remedy for too-3ild 5hildre!4 erfe5tly a55om lishi!" Se!da67s missio! i! 3riti!". From their earliest years 5hildre! li8e o! familiar terms 3ith disru ti!" emotio!sE fear a!d a!xiety are a! i!tri!si5 art of their e8eryday li8es4 they 5o!ti!ually 5o e 3ith frustratio!s as best they 5a!. %!d it is throu"h fa!tasy that 5hildre! a5hie8e 5atharsis. It is the best mea!s they ha8e for tami!" 0ild .hi!"s 9Sil8ey $7:.

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Se!da6 is ofte! 5riti5i>ed for his too-realisti5 ortrayal of the oor 5hildhood beha8ior dis layed by Max i! Wild Things. Some adult readers feel that Max e!5oura"es 5hildre! to be 3ild4 a!d that i! fa5t that 3ill be re3arded a!d re8ered for bad beha8ior. 0hat the text a5tually a55om lishes is ?uite the re8erse - it remi!ds readers that it7s o6ay to ha8e a! i!!er 3ild thi!" - a!d it sho3s them that ultimately4 li6e Max4 they 3a!t @to be 3here someo!e lo8ed them best of allA - i! the real 3orld 3here fa!tasies are al3ays as easily a55essible as 5losi!" o!e7s eyes. Fa!tasies ofte! are more leasa!t tha! realities4 es e5ially 3he! frustrated as Max is as the story be"i!s. Wild Things sho3s that 5atharsis 5a! be a5hie8ed4 that i!!er 0ild .hi!"s 5a! be tamed4 3ith ;ust a little fa!tasy. 0hat is ofte! o8erloo6ed by the 5riti5s of this arti5ular a"e!t of re8olutio! a!d liberatio! is the "reat s5ru ulous!ess a!d 5are 3ith 3hi5h Se!da6 has al3ays addressed his audie!5e. ,!e of the liberatory o3ers of art is its 5a a5ity to mirror4 to hel the self !ame itself4 to re5o"!i>e itself a!d see itself as o!e amo!" others. .his !ami!" of the self is a 5riti5al mome!t i! the a5t of liberatio!. For a!y re8olutio! to su55eed4 it must ha8e a !ameable 5ause. %rt4 by mirrori!"4 5a! 5o!tribute to that. 1ut 5hildre! both !eed a!d suffer re8olutio!. .hey !eed freedom and routi!e4 freedom and se5urity. %rt for 5hildre! must !ot merely mirror4 must !ot be satisfied sim ly to torme!t the "ro3th that

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5omes from freedomE art for the 5hildre! must or"a!i>e as 3ell 9*ush!er 11:. Se!da64 a self- ro5laimed ad8o5ate of 5hildhood4 3rote a!d illustrated boo6s that he ho ed 3ould sho3 5hildre!4 throu"h both 3ord a!d ima"e4 ho3 to "et throu"h the re8olutio! of 5hildhood.

E-E'2./I)N 0%S M%&'I(E SE)D%* %)D ),./I)N /&'. .he ma!y 3or6s of Mauri5e Se!da6 are multilayered a!d 5om lex odes to a 5hildhood that Se!da6 3as able to 5o!!e5t 3ith as a! adult. .hou"h ofte! er5ei8ed as ;ust a "rum y old ma! i! the years before his death4 or erha s a "rum y old 3riterCillustrator 3ho 3rote u!settli!"4 terrifyi!" boo6s for 5hildre!4 Se!da6 6!e3 exa5tly 3hat he 3as doi!". E8ery 3ord 3ritte! o! his a"es 3as a deliberate 5hoi5e4 e8ery stro6e of his e! measured a!d thou"htful. =ust as he belie8ed adults do !ot "i8e e!ou"h 5rede!5e to the abilities of 5hildre! to 6!o3 their o3! sel8es4 I thi!6 ma!y eo le do !ot "i8e e!ou"h res e5t to Se!da67s 3or6s. 19th-5e!tury E!"lish oet a!d artist 0illiam 1la6e 3ildly i!s ired Se!da64 3ho o!5e said4 @1la6e is u!?uestio!ably im orta!t4 my 5or!ersto!e i! ma!y 3ays. )obody before him e8er told me that 5hildhood 3as su5h a dam! serious busi!essA 9Mar5o8it> JI:. It 3as!7t u!til shortly before his death that I dis5o8ered the ?uiet "e!ius of Se!da67s hiloso hies4 of his beliefs about 5hildre!4 boo6s4 a!d 5e!sorshi . For me4 Se!da6 ro8ides the i!s iratio! he fou!d i! the oetry

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a!d art of 1la6e. .he 5hildre! of the 3orld lost a o3erful ad8o5ate o! May D of last year G a!d I si!5erely ho e that a!other su5h ad8o5ate G a ?uiet4 tale!ted4 "rum y old ma! G 5omes about. .hrou"h e8ery i!5h of resear5h for this a er4 I lame!ted the fa5t that I did!7t dis5o8er this "e!tle4 ?uiet ma! u!til after his death. /e has sha ed my beliefs as a libraria!4 as a reader4 a!d as a member of the huma! ra5e.

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1I1LI,N'%P/2
@1a!!ed 1oo6s %3are!ess.A Banned Boo s A%areness. 0eb. 1# % r. #01$. Qhtt +CCba!!edboo6s.3orld.eduC#011C0BC10Cba!!ed-boo6s-a3are!ess3ild-mauri5e-se!da6CR. (e5h4 =oh!. Angels and Wild Things: the Archety(al Poetics of Maurice Senda . &!i8ersity Par6+ Pe!!syl8a!ia State &!i8ersity Press4 199I. Pri!t. Fassler4 =oe. @Mauri5e Se!da6 o! the First 1oo6 /e7s 0ritte! a!d Illustrated i! $0 2ears - =oe Fassler - E!tertai!me!t - .he %tla!ti5.A The Atlantic ) Ne%s and Analysis on Politics& Business& *ulture& Technology& National& +nternational& and Life ) TheAtlantic'com' .he %tla!ti54 #011. 0eb. 0J % r. #01$. Nuillai!4 (harlotte. Maurice Senda . (hi5a"o+ /ei!ema!! Library4 #01#. Pri!t. *eeli!"4 *.4 Pollard S. @Po3er4 Food4 a!d Eati!" i! Mauri5e Se!da6 a!d /e!ri6 Dres5her+ Where the Wild Things Are& +n the Night #itchen& and The Boy Who Ate Around.A *hildren$s Literature in ,ducation $0.# 91999:+ 1#7-1B$. MLA +nternational Bibliogra(hy. 0eb. 1B % r. #01$. *ush!er4 .o!y. The Art of Maurice Senda : -./0 ) Present. )e3 2or6+ /arry ). %brams4 #00$. Pri!t. La!es4 Selma N. The Art of Maurice Senda . )e3 2or6 + %bradale4 19DB. Pri!t. Ma"uire4 Nre"ory4 a!d Mauri5e Se!da6. Ma ing Mischief: A Maurice Senda A((reciation. )e3 2or6+ 0illiam Morro34 #009. Pri!t. Mar5o8it>4 /al. Maurice Senda . )e3 2or6+ (helsea /ouse4 #00J. Pri!t. ,8erbey4 Eri!. @Mauri5e Se!da6 a!d the Soul of the %rtist.A The Ne% Yor er. D May4 #01#. 0eb. 1I % r. #01$. Qhtt +CC333.!e3yor6er.5omCo!li!eCblo"sCba56issuesC#01#C0ICmauri5ese!da6.htmlR.
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Poole4 L.M.4 a!d Mauri5e Se!da6. Maurice Senda and the Art of *hildren$s Boo +llustration. Maidsto!e+ (res5e!t Moo!4 #007. Pri!t. S5ott4 =o! (.4 a!d (hristi!e Doyle Fra!5is. @F/ome7 a!d F)ot /ome7 i! (hildre!7s Stories+ Netti!" .here -- a!d 1ei!" 0orth It.A *hildren$s Literature in ,ducation #B.$ 9199$:+ ##$-#$$. Academic Search Premier. 0eb. 19 % r. #01$. Se!da64 Mauri5e. *aldecott 1 *o' )e3 2or6+ Farrar4 Straus4 a!d Niroux4 19DD. Pri!t. Se!da64 Mauri5e. @Des5e!t i!to Limbo.A *hildren and Libraries 1.# 9#00$:+ 17-#$. ,ducation Full Te2t 3!'W' Wilson4' 0eb. 1B % r. #01$. Se!da64 Mauri5e. +n the Night #itchen. )e3 2or6+ /ar er P 'o34 1970. Pri!t. Se!da64 Mauri5e. #enny$s Windo%. )e3 2or6+ /ar er (olli!s4 19IJ. Pri!t. Se!da64 Mauri5e. 5utside 56er There. )e3 2or6+ /ar er P 'o34 19D1. Pri!t. Se!da64 Mauri5e. Where the Wild Things Are. )e3 2or6+ /ar er P 'o34 19J$. Pri!t. Serafi!i4 Fra!6. @% =our!ey 0ith the 0ild .hi!"s+ % 'eader 'es o!se Pers e5ti8e i! Pra5ti5e.A 7ournal of *hildren$s Literature #D.1 9#00#:+ 7$7D. ,ducation Full Te2t 3!'W' Wilson4' 0eb. 1I % r. #01$. Sil8ey4 %!ita. -00 Best Boo s for *hildren. 1osto!+ /ou"hto! Miffli!4 #00B. $7-$9. Pri!t. So!heim4 %my. Maurice Senda . )e3 2or6+ .3ay!e4 1991. Pri!t.

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