Two years ago, on my birthday, I went to the Contemporary Jewish Museum to see a retrospective of Maurice Sendak’s work. It was beyond inspiring to see his progression as an illustrator and writer, often addressing dismal subject matters that reflected real life battles he once faced. His ability to empathize with the pains/joys of childhood through imaginative dialogue and illustrations makes him so extraordinary. After seeing the retrospective, I bought myself a birthday gift, Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life, which is dedicated to his dog Jennie (the main character) who died of cancer. The illustrations, featuring anthropomorphic animals, have such amazing crosshatching details. It’s a sweet tribute to his best dog friend which celebrates life while dealing with death. Here’s a touching interview he did with Terry Gross where he broaches such subjects. A truly special person who will be celebrated and missed for a long time to come.
There must be more to life.
h.
