Maurice Sendak, beloved children's author/illustrator and noted curmudgeon, died today from complications suffered from a stroke at his home in Danbury, Connecticut. He was 83. Best known for his classic story, Where the Wild Things Are (for which he was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964), Sendak wrote over a dozen books and illustrated many more. He received the National Medal of Arts in 1996 for his contributions to illustration and to children's literature. To celebrate the man and his wondrous achievements, make sure to check out his hilarious interview with Stephen Colbert from January of this year and keep these words of wisdom from the man himself in mind:

"My big concern is me and what do I do now until the time of my death. That is valid. That is useful. That is beautiful. That is creative. And also, I want to be free again...I want to see me to the end working, living for myself. Ripeness is all. Now, interpreting what ripeness is our own individual problem. … So, what is the point of it all? Not leaving legacies. But being ripe. Being ripe... In other words, you must not waste a second of this deliciousness which for [Keats] was life and being a great poet. That you savor every, everything that happened. I want to get ripe."

Check out our memorial booklist here and read a Sendak story today!