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The Maurice Sendak Foundation

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Today we celebrate our many October birthdays on staff! Happiest birthday wishes to our Deputy Director, Suzanne Murphy, our Foundation Assistant, Chloe Giroux, and to our dear Stinehour Press team, Elvira Piedra & Stephen Stinehour (Stephen's birthday is actually today!). Thank you for all of the caring work you do to not only help the Foundation grow, but to lovingly add to Maurice's ongoing legacy.

Happy Birthday!

Original illustration from "The Bat-Poet" (1963), written by Randall Jarrell, pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

#mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #thebatpoet #childrensbookillustration

@tismurphyg
@girouxkangaroo
@elvira_piedra
@forpress by @sendakfoundation

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a day ago

We're so excited to celebrate the newest children's book release "Cow and Sow," from former Sendak Fellow & Fellowship Coordinator @dougsalati! If you're in Manhattan this Sunday, October 11th at 2pm, head on over to @booksofwonder for a live reading & drawing session with Doug and writer, Matthew Farina. Congratulations, Doug!

#sendakfellow #sendakfoundation #sendakfellowship #childrensbooks by @sendakfoundation

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7 days ago

Original interior illustration from "The Golden Key," written by George MacDonald, pictures by © Maurice Sendak (1967)

#mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #georgemacdonald #childrensbookillustration by @sendakfoundation

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14 days ago

Here's a peek into how the iconic endpapers for "Open House for Butterflies," were made! Original drawings of the children dancing were photocopied and then glued into place in repetition to create a pattern across the endpapers. There are actually only 4 unique drawings in the repeating pattern, but when viewed all together, it almost gives the illusion of a spinning waltz.

Also pictured are annotations reading, "beautiful endpaper - Open House for Butterflies," "black on yellow ochre," (which refers to the color of paper used), & "blue lines include bleeds" -- which refers to the final dimensions of the printed image.

Published in 1960, written by Ruth Krauss with pictures by © Maurice Sendak, "Open House for Butterflies."

#sendakfoundation #mauricesendak #openhouseforbutterflies #ruthkrauss #childrensbooks by @sendakfoundation

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22 days ago

READ NOW! ➡️📚 Imaginative definitions inspired by the humor and wisdom of children themselves!

A timeless treasure for all ages from Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak.

📖A Hole Is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Maurice Sendak by @sendakfoundation

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a month ago

"We can picnic here," said Mother Bear.
"It is nice here, by the river."

"Let's go for a swim," said Father Bear.

Interior illustration from "Father Bear Comes Home" (1960), written by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

#mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #fatherbearcomeshome #littlebear #childrensbooks by @sendakfoundation

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An ode to childhood wonder from Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak, the creator of Where the Wild Things Are! Where children define the world in their own witty and perfectly logical way.

Perfect for all ages!

📖A Hole Is to Dig: A First Book of First Definitions by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Maurice Sendak by @sendakfoundation

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2 months ago

"Dogs are to Kiss People." One of our favorite spreads from the upcoming remastered edition of "A Hole Is to Dig," officially out next week, Tuesday August 25th!

Original illustration from "A Hole Is to Dig," 2026 edition. Written by Ruth Krauss, pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

#mauricesendak #aholeistodig #ruthkrauss #sendakfoundation #childrensbooks by @sendakfoundation

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2 months ago

Today is our very own assistant, Chloe M. Giroux's publishing debut! Her book, "My Kentucky Moonlight School," written by Kim Michele Richardson, is now available, wherever books are sold. Here at the Sendak Foundation, we're so proud of Chloe and have loved seeing her journey illustrating this book from beginning to end over the last two years.

Inspired by the life of Cora Wilson Stewart, whose Moonlight Schools became the model for the first adult literacy programs in the United States, Kim Michele Richardson imagines lives lived among the hills and hollers of Appalachia in the 1910s, transformed by the power of reading. We follow young Jewel and her grandparents through the woods on their moonlit path to school; held only during evenings for grown-ups. Jewel has been helping her Mamaw & Papaw with their reading and writing, but has she done enough to help them graduate? Richardson and Giroux take a loving and illustrated look into Appalachian history with Jewel as their guide.

Now available from your favorite independent bookstore!

@girouxkangaroo #sendakfoundation #pubday #bookbirthday #childrensbookillustration by @sendakfoundation

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2 months ago

Color sketch illustration from an early dummy book (mock-up) for "The Sign on Rosie's Door," words & pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

#Sendak #mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #thesignonrosiesdoor #dummybook by @sendakfoundation

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2 months ago

Ever wondered what illustrated packaging looks like before it gets put together? Here is the original illustration made for "The Nutshell Library" slipcase! Originally planned out on a flat piece of paper, Maurice thoughtfully painted five of the sides for the outer slipcase that houses "Pierre," "One Was Johnny," "Alligators All Around," and "Chicken Soup With Rice."

While it may look like a strange layout, it fits together perfectly, and has been included in countless children's bookshelves since 1962. Swipe to see it all folded up and put together!

Original illustration for "The Nutshell Library," words & pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

#sendak #mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #nutshelllibrary #childrensbooks by @sendakfoundation

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3 months ago

Today we celebrate our associate curator, Nathan Flis' birthday! His actual birthday was earlier this month, but today we eat cake and take a turn about the dance floor.

Original illustration from "What Do You Say, Dear?" (1958) Written by Sesyle Joslin, pictures by © Maurice Sendak.

@nathanflis1

#whatdoyousaydear #mauricesendak #sendakfoundation #childrensbookillustration by @sendakfoundation

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3 months ago