The Wild Story Behind The Children’s Classic “Wild Things”

In this story we learn some very little known facts about the classic picture book “Where the Wild Things Are.” Pioneering children’s writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak published his classic tale featuring young Max’s voyage to the magical land where he becomes king and leads the wild rumpus among the dreadful creatures there in 1963, although he actually began work on it years before. It’s thrilled generations of children since. 

“Maurice Sendak in His Own Words and Pictures,” an exhibit for children and adults alike at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, showcases all of Sendak’s career, which reached into the 21st century. Maurice Sendak died in 2012.

At a recent visit to the exhibit, curator Tim Frilingos gave John Lemley the story behind the story on the creation of “Wild Things,” and on Sendak’s creative life.Broadcast version of story that aired Monday, Dec. 8, 2014