Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Maurice Sendak, 1928-2012 (page 2)


Cover art for WE ARE ALL IN THE DUMPS WITH JACK AND GUY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 1993
by Maurice Sendak, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

"Once again, he explores new ground and offers a masterpiece. (Picture book. 4+)"
Harking back to Hector Protector (1965), Sendak again pairs two nursery rhymes; but this time, he penetrates deeply into society's ills in his elaborate visual extension of the words. Read full book review >
Cover art for I SAW ESAU
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 5, 1992
by Iona Opie, Peter Opie, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

"New introduction by Iona Opic; notes, nicely leavened by Sendak's characters, who reappear among them. (Folklore. 5+)"
A collection of traditional schoolyard verse, winningly grouped in 31 subjects from "Beginning of Term" to "End of Term" ("No more beetles in my tea,/Making googly eyes at me") and including not just "Insults," "Riddles," and "Nonsense" but such creative headings as "Retaliation," "Guile—Innocent," "Book Desecration," and "Lullabies—Adolescent Style"—a book originally published in Britain in 1947 and now given glorious new life. Read full book review >
Cover art for OUTSIDE OVER THERE
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 22, 1981
illustrated by Maurice Sendak

"Whether it has the direct, elemental strength of Sendak's previous picture books is less certain."
"When Papa was away at sea/ And Mama in the arbor/ Ida played her wonder horn/ to rock the baby still/ but never watched." Read full book review >
Cover art for SEVEN LITTLE MONSTERS
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 1, 1977

"Perhaps it's Sendak's way of demonstrating that even with both hands behind his back and his attention elsewhere he's more inventive than the likes of Gackenbach and Schertle (above)—but such indifferent efforts from the king of all wild things are all the more disappointing."
Seven little monsters, in guises and postures you'll recognize from previous Sendak works, are resisted (and, at last, routed) by a nursery-rhyme village of much smaller and even more casually sketched figures—in six little pages that you might take for one of those slightly extended greeting cards. Read full book review >
Cover art for SOME SWELL PUP
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 1976
by Matthew Margolis, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

"Much as one admires Sendak's ability to be up front aboug dog do, it don't make much of a book."
Normal puppies do everything wrong" . . . so "you've got to Love! Read full book review >
Cover art for MAURICE SENDAK'S REALLY ROSIE STARRING THE NUTSHELL KIDS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 13, 1975
illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Based on the exuberant television special of the same name, which was itself based on The Nutshell Library and The Sign on Rosie's Door (with some illustrations reminiscent of In the Night Kitchen), this brings together script (which includes the four Nutshell rhymes), score, and stills for both those who missed the show and those who are sorry it's over. Read full book review >