Book Board Chat

Maurice Sendak Musing on his new Book ... His first Book in 30 Years

Maurice Sendak's new illustrated book is Bumble Ardy. It tells the story of a young pig named Bumble who throws an illicit, chaotic birthday party for himself to make up for a lifetime of uncelebrated birthdays. Bumble-Ardy begins with this unruly child protagonist who feels confined by the strictures of domestic life, and who invents a way to explore his wilder energies.

“I don't know how long Bumble took me in the long run—but this notion that I suddenly sat up in bed, had an idea, and sat down and did the book is kind of silly. It's been around my neck for a long time. And I'm so glad it's finished, it's published, and out of my life.”

“Bumble doesn't trust anybody. His betrayal of his aunt, which seems kind of minor, is typical of what I feel he is like. He's an orphan, after all. And why should he trust anybody? And to get a child's trust—you may know or not—is a very hard thing to do. They're so used to not believing adults—because adults tell tales and lies all the time. I wanted him to be suspicious. And I wanted him to be aggressive for his own needs. There wasn't any reason for him not to tell his aunt, it was just better in his own terms of life to frustrate her. He doesn't know why. And I don't know why. That's what a book is for me: a lot of questions, very few answers.”

“Most children fantasize another set of parents. Or fantasize no parents. They don't tell their real parents about that—you don't want to tell mom and dad. Kids lead a very private life. And I was a typical child (I think). I was a liar. I was out to protect my parents from hard truths. Although what I assumed was a hard truth was really—hard to realize what it could be now.”

“Bumble is a tough little bastard. And he's had a hard time from the word "go." And he knows he's supposed to be good and kind and all of things that are expected of children. When he tells her that he'll never turn ten, it tells you how much he does not comprehend the business of living and dying. And that's something so much on the minds of children. They may not bring it up because they don't want to disturb their parents—but children do a lot not to disturb their parents. And they know a lot.”

“That's what all the fairy tales are all mostly about—about the vulnerability of children and how they figure out tricks and ways of living in the world and making up parents. Make-believe parents. And I think that's probably one of the hardest jobs in the world. Being a parent, and not succumbing to failure. I think people should given a test much like drivers' tests as to whether their capable of being parents! It's an art form.”
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“Bumble’s Aunt Adeline is naturally good. She's a big, amiable woman—but even though Bumble is not her son, she will kill to protect him. And that's the only way these kids survive. The gift Aunt Adeline gives Bumble is a good one: the cowboy costume allows him to play. The costume allows him an entryway the realm of fantasy and imagination, so it's a good gift—even though he takes it too far.”

“Children have no money, so they can't go in and make their own choice. So mommy or granny or somebody nice brings them the books. And they will do anything to make the adult content, so they will like the book. Kids are very gracious. And they won't insult anybody by saying "I hate that book." Except when they write to me, and they said "I hate that book." Those are the most gratifying letters. I have pierced their armor. A little girl wrote and said: "why are there babies in Outside Over There? What the hell is the matter with them? And why do they all wear head covers? And why do they all wear big, swimmy clothes?" She was furious! She said, "Don't you know how to dress a baby properly?"“

“When a kid writes to me and says: "I hate your book. I hope you die soon. Cordially." Well, the combination of "I hope you die soon" and "cordially" is wonderful. It shows how bewildering the whole thing was to her—and to me. She was allowing herself to hate. "I hate your book." But she'd learned in school that you're supposed to end your letter with the words "cordially" or "best wishes." And so they combine both without thinking there's something goofy in such a thing. But that's their charm, and that's what we lose by growing up—lose, lose, lose. And if we're lucky, it happens again when we're old.”

“My books have been banned in my lifetime. I was banned for In the Night Kitchen. Because the boy had a pecker. A boy without a pecker—that I something I would condemn. But that is such a mindless thing to get excoriated about. But you see, if it's a children's book—then you don't have a pecker. Well, bullshit. Boys are boys and girls are girls. What the hell are we fighting about?”

Yadayadayada … The Complete Interview with Questions and Answers:
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/09/maurice-sendak-on-the-first-book-hes-written-and-illustrated-in-30-years/245342/