Happy 82nd B-Day Mr. Sendak

Maurice Sendak is a legendary children's book  author and illustrator. His classic, Where The Wild Things Are, is my all time favorite kids book. It is the first book I ever read in a classroom... I picked it up on the 1st day of Mrs. Adler's kindergarten class and was hooked from there on in. Anytime we had to get a book to read, I found myself sitting at my desk with Where The Wild Things Are right in front of me. He is a literary genius, and he has pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in a childrens book over his storied career. Some of his other classics are In The Night Kitchen and Chicken Soup With Rice, and the kindergarten graduation performance staple Alligators All Around. Director Spike Jonez accomplished what seemed to be impossible last year by bringing Where The Wild Things Are to the big screen. Sendak totally approved Jonez's vision of his classic book and often praised the film as an excellent adaption. I personally loved the live action movie... but I'm an 80's baby, so I included an early version of Sendak's illustrations that was brought to life while a narrator reads the story. I remember watching this as a kid, and being fascinated by it. Also, I included a clip of some 1983 test animation from a proposed Disney animated version that never came to be. Happy B-day Mr. Sendak.... LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!!!!!

Old School Narrated Version

Disney Test Animation From 1983 (God I wish they would have made this!!!)