The Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert interviewed Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak this week. Follow these links to watch part one and part two of the interview.
According to Shelf Awareness, Colbert “turned [to Sendak] for advice on becoming a celebrity children’s author, pitched his sequel idea for Where the Wild Things Are 2: Still Wildin’ (featuring action star Vin Diesel) and generally let the wild rumpus begin.”
During the interview, some of the “rumpus” that emerged included Sendak’s opinion on the current state of children’s literature; he finds it “abysmal” and thinks that “most books for children are very bad.”
Sendak praised Dr. Seuss‘ Green Eggs & Ham and Hans Augusto Rey & Margret Rey‘s Curious George. Colbert pitched Sendak his picture book idea (mostly written in verse), I am a Pole (And So Can You!). After Colbert’s reading, Sendak chuckled and confessed, “The sad thing is, I like it.”
After this interview, do you think publishers will be offering deals for Colbert’s picture book? The picture book world is no stranger to celebrity authors with hit titles such as Freckleface Strawberry by actress Julianne Moore, Dream Big, Little Pig! by Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and When I Grow Up by musician Weird Al Yankovic. (Photo Credit: John Dugdale)