Maurice Sendak Talks About New Book, Parenthood, Coming Out, Growing Old

It’s Banned Books Week, the the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual celebration of the freedom to read. I can think of no better way to celebrate than to point out a new interview by NPR’s Terry Gross of children’s literature icon Maurice Sendak, about his new book, Bumble-Ardy. Sendak’s book In the Night Kitchen made the ALA’s list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books in 2004.

Sendak also talks about his thoughts on parenthood, coming out (which he did at the age of 80), and the “fragility of life.” His partner Eugene was ill and dying while Sendak wrote Bumble-Ardy.  Sendak wrote the book, he said, in order to help himself live after Eugene’s death.

It’s a poignant interview (have tissues handy), but well worth the 20 minutes.

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