Admired for his award-winning illustrations and beloved for his imaginative storytelling, Maurice Sendak is an American children’s book legend. Whether they are monsters stomping through a forest, a boy cruising in a bread plane, or a parade of pigs celebrating a birthday, the unique characters of Sendak’s books have sparked the imaginations of children for decades. His talents and ambitions, however, are not limited to children’s books. He also created television shows and designed sets for operas and ballets.
To honor such a cherished cultural icon is no small task. How can anyone sing the praises of Maurice Sendak with enough affection? The doodlers and I decided to let Sendak’s characters do the talking, or the walking rather. The doodle is a kind of parade– sixteen of his characters march through their stories and gather around a birthday cake decked with candles that read “85.” Even his dog, Herman, makes an appearance to wish Maurice a warm happy birthday.
