Why is my needle stuck in childhood? I don't know why. I guess it's because that's where my heart is.

And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.

I don't write for children. I write, and somebody says, 'That's for children.'

Sendak is in search of what he calls a "yummy death". William Blake set the standard, jumping up from his death bed at the last minute to start singing. "A happy death," says Sendak. "It can be done." He lifts his eyebrows to two peaks. "If you're William Blake and totally crazy.

I do not remember any proper children's books in my childhood. I was not exposed to them.

I wanted to be acknowledged as an artist, not just some kiddie-book artist.

I don't believe in things literally for children. That's a reduction.