Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) was a groundbreaking American author and illustrator whose imaginative work transformed children’s literature. Best known for Where the Wild Things Are (1963), he captured the fierce emotions, fears, and joys of childhood with honesty and beauty. Over his long career, Sendak illustrated or wrote more than one hundred books, earning the Caldecott Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and worldwide acclaim. Though private during much of his life, Sendak later spoke openly about being gay and about his longtime partner, a psychoanalyst, with whom he shared more than fifty years. His stories continue to enchant and challenge readers of all ages, inviting them to embrace both the wonder and the wildness within.
Find his plaque on Market Street between Noe and Sanchez Streets.