FEAR Features: Maurice Sendak

It should be a prerequisite for all children to read at least one book by Maurice Sendak. My one, and the one of most, was Where The Wild Things Are. Like most fans of the book, I’m excited to see its film adaptation. I am also extremely nervous. For one, a typical Maurice Sendak book is not that long. Most of it is illustration. Now there’s an entire ninety minute chunk of space for you to take it to a whole new realm of creativity… or completely, totally and utterly screw it up. No pressure, Spike Jonze.

Mooter, taking part in the 100 Book Challenge at her school, has picked up Chicken Soup With Rice and declared it her new favorite which is great because I thought we were going to be reading The Monster At The End Of This Book FOR-EH-VER. It wasn’t until she began reading it to me aloud that I remembered Really Rosie.



C’mon. ABC turned it into a Schoolhouse Rock-esque Saturday cartoon with Carole King singing the songs? No? How about now…



Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers Really Rosie. It was a staple in childhood entertainment. I thought I was going to have to sedate Mooter when I played the above while she read along. All the MOMMY! IT’S THE SINGING! AND IT’S THE STORY! AND THE SONG! THEY’RE SINGING THE STORY! HOW DID THEY DO THAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SAW THIS AS A KID? YOU WERE A KID? WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT CAME OUT THE YEAR DADDY WAS BORN? DADDY WAS A BABY? YOU MEAN THIS IS OLD?

Apparently, Maurice Sendak came under a bit of controversy back in the day for a story I’d never seen or heard of but, as I’m finding out now, was also wildly popular: In The Night Kitchen. Heard of it?



How clever, the picture, because it’s wallpaper. In a kitchen. Get it? Because…

Nevermind.

Well, from what I saw while watching the animated adaptation with Mooter on my lap (God love YouTube, sometimes, you know?), there might have been a small, little, teeny-tiny reason for the controversy. Seems the main character – a child – showed his beans and frank in the animation. Granted, it was literally drawn to scale so there’s nothing to guffaw about. Yet it is mildly uncomfortable when your seven-year-old goes HEY! HE’S NAKED! I HAVE TO CLOSE MY EYES! …Right Mom?

Yes, honey. Close your eyes. And keep them closed until your 40.