Maurice Sendak, Alov Hasholom Maurice Sendak has died at the age of 83. While I have no knowledge of the state of his soul, there is no doubt that Sendak's sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes intriguing stories and illustrations for children of all ages were never dull. I was too old to have _Where the Wild Things Are_ influence my childhood, but my nieces, nephews, and friends' children whom I babysat when young all related well to that story, as did my own sons. I trust that when my granddaughter is a little older, she will enjoy the tale of Max and his wolf suit, too. My own childhood knew the Little Bear stories, which I admit I liked most because of Sendak's skill as an illustrator. The honesty of his storytelling and willingness to let children face some of their fears was also part of his appeal. While there are probably more artists waiting in the wings, Sendak was one of a kind, and won't be replaced.