A selection of classic children's picture books on a bright yellow background

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Children's reading lists

The best classic children’s picture books

A Sendak Collection

Maurice Sendak's beloved children's classics brought together in audio, read by BAFTA award winning Tom Hollander.

Maurice Sendak (Author) 
 Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of A Sendak Collection by Maurice Sendak, read by Tom Hollander. 
 
 Come on an adventure with three classic tales from Maurice Sendak. 
 
 Sail off with Max to Where the Wild Things Are. 
 Fall with Mickey into the light of the Night Kitchen. 
 Climb backwards with Ida into Outside Over There. 
 
 Beautifully accompanied by the music of Mozart.

Hector Protector

Two nursery rhymes joyfully retold by the creator of Where The Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

Join Maurice Sendak in his mischievous retellings of Hector Protector and As I Went Over The Water. 
 
This hilarious little book is packed with the charm and humour of the great Maurice Sendak, creator of Where The Wild Things Are. 
 
The perfect bedtime story for little ones.

or There Must Be More to Life

Higglety Pigglety Pop!

A wonderfully funny tale about a little dog with a big dream from the creator of Where The Wild Things Are.

Sendak is the daddy of them all when it comes to picture books - the words, the rhythm and the design are all wonderful.

If there is more to life than having everything, there, is also more to life than having nothing; Jennie's farewell letter to her old master is written from Castle Yonder. In synopsis, this sounds both more and less ambiguous than it is -- you can't compress the reverberations into a review, and certainly not the ominous illustrations; it may by-pass some adults because Sendak speaks directly to the elastic imagination of children.

A daring imagination has woven a simple rhyme into a brilliantly original tale about Jennie, the Sealyham terrier, who seeks Experience and becomes the star of the World Mother Goose Theatre.

Where The Wild Things Are

Book and CD

This best-selling classic now comes with an audio CD read by Tom Hollander.

The key to Sendak's success and to the continuing hipness of his book, is that it's hero is not a good child . . . the book is, in fact, extraordinarily childcentric, a book written for and about terrible infants, the kind of terrible infants that most children really are and that all adults remain for much of the time

This is my never-fail picture book. The text is very short, but utterly perfect, the illustrations are tremendous

Gripping, ingenious and uplifting . . . a shrewd, fierce, healing book

A timeless masterpiece. The illustrations, the fabulous monsters, the beautiful cross-hatching, and the surreal, dreamlike narrative beckons the reader to join the adventure. The themes are perfect for inspiring discussion on confronting life's scary things, mastering your fears and being brave, letting off steam, saying goodbye, and the comfort of returning home safe and sound

An almost-perfect picture book stuffed with mischief, magic and meaning . . . Has a haunting depth that makes bedtime reading thrilling, a little scary, but also empowering

Read-along with the story in this book and CD edition! 
 
One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. 
 
That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. 
 
But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.

The Sign On Rosie's Door

A hilarious and insightful celebration of the power of the imagination and the resourcefulness of childhood.

"If you want to know a secret, knock three times" 
 
Join the imaginative Rosie and her friends in this humourous and insightful celebration of the power of the imagination by the creator of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.

Outside Over There

From the author of Where the Wild Things Are, this is the third book in Sendak's famous Wild Things trilogy.

While Ida is busy playing her wonder horn, goblins come in through the window and kidnap her baby sister. If Ida is to save her, she must follow the goblins into the outside over there and use her wonder music to defeat them . . .

In The Night Kitchen

From the author of Where the Wild Things Are, this is the second book in Sendak's famous Wild Things trilogy.

Sendak's hero Mickey falls through the dark into the Night Kitchen where three fat bakers are making the morning cake. So begins an intoxicating dream fantasy, described by the artist himself as 'a fantasy ten feet deep in reality'.

Presto and Zesto in Limboland

A unique, rambunctious new story from the imaginations of legendary creators, Maurice Sendak and Arthur Yorinks.

The storytelling voice evokes a particular – even poignant – time and place [. . .] It's a joy to have another glimpse at Sendak's magic.

Arthur Yorinks (Author) Arthur Yorinks has written and directed for opera, theatre, dance, film, and radio and is the author of many acclaimed children's books, including Hey, Al, with illustrations by Richard Egielski, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1987. He was Maurice Sendak's friend for 40 years; their other collaborations included Mommy?, The Miami Giant, and the Night Kitchen Theater company, which they co-founded. Maurice Sendak (Illustrator) Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

From Maurice Sendak, the unrivalled illustrator of Where The Wild Things Are, and long-time collaborator and friend Arthur Yorinks. 
 
This never-before published tale is an imaginative romp through the world of Limboland. Two great friends – a friendship largely inspired by Maurice Sendak's and Arthur Yorkink's own – must brave a monster, a singing cow, and several berserk goats, to complete their quest. And the quest they're undertaking? To find a present in time for the wedding of the sugar beets! 
 
The pair originally created this tale many years ago, and it has now been reworked by Arthur Yorinks as an ode to their 40-year friendship. With Maurice Sendak's jubilant illustrations and full of the wit and sheer imagination of this creative duo, this new publication is a song to friendship, creativity, and joy. With the classic Maurice Sendak cocktail of depth, spontaneity and humour, this unseen tale will delight fans of both creators.

Little Bear

This beautifully simple story is perfect for new readers and illustrated by the creator of Where The Wild Things Are

Else Holmelund Minarik (Author) 
Else Holmelund Minarik was the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and were adapted for television. 
 
Born in Denmark, Minarik moved to the United States with her family at the age of four. After graduating from Queens College, City University of New York she became a journalist for the Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper and taught first-graders during World War II. 
 
Minarik died in 2012. 
 
Maurice Sendak (Illustrator) 
Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

From the illustrator of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. 
Little Bear loves to go on adventures and Mother Bear is always there when he needs her. In this book he goes to the moon, plays in the snow and there's even a surprise birthday party. Just what will he get up to next? 
Full of warm and lovingly playful stories that are perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences on their own.

Father Bear Comes Home

The second book in the LITTLE BEAR series. Illustrated by the creator of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.

Else Holmelund Minarik (Author) 
 Else Holmelund Minarik was the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and were adapted for television. 
 
Born in Denmark, Minarik moved to the United States with her family at the age of four. After graduating from Queens College, City University of New York she became a journalist for the Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper and taught first-graders during World War II. 
 
Minarik died in 2012. 
 
Maurice Sendak (Illustrator) 
 Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

Little Bear’s father is finally coming home from a long fishing trip. Little Bear is very excited to see him — even if he doesn’t bring the mermaid Little Bear has been hoping for!

Mr Rabbit And The Lovely Present

Sendak's soft pastel illustrations beautifully complement this endearing tale of a little girl's search for a perfect present.

A gentle, lyrical story telling how a little girls solves the problem of what to get for her mother's birthday. A wonderful way to explore colour, with beautiful illustrations

Charlotte Zolotow (Author) 
 Charlotte Zolotow was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1915. She was a renowned American author, poet, editor and publisher of many books for children. 
 
As well as authoring over 60 books for children, she worked as an editor at HarperCollins and edited many well-known authors such as Paul Fleischman, Paul Zindel, Mary Rodgers, Robert Lipsyte and Francesca Lia Block. 
 
She lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where she died, aged 98. 
 
Maurice Sendak (Illustrator) 
 Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

Little Girl really needs to find a birthday present for her mother in her favourite colour. But with so many things to choose from, she's going to need some help from Rabbit . . . 
 
And so they search, learning about colours as they go. 
 
A beautifully endearing tale from author Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE creator Maurice Sendak.

The Moon Jumpers

Exquisite watercolours by Sendak perfectly complement a poetic text creating an evocative and dreamlike book.

A lyrical story of night-time, in which four small children and a black cat find themselves enchanted with the loveliness of the hot summer night and the magic of the moon. Illustrated by the author of the acclaimed picture book classic, Where the Wild Things Are.

Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak’s legacy continues with this playful counting extravaganza for the youngest child. Here is a small reader’s introduction to the magic of Mr. Sendak’s books - a journey that will continue for many years to come.Prepare to be . . .Amazed . . .Dazzled . . .And mesmerized by Mino’s magic show!

Maurice Sendak

Books by Maurice Sendak

Series by Maurice Sendak

Little Bear

Articles featuring Maurice Sendak

The best classic children’s picture books

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