Maurice Sendak Comes Out

Maurice Sendak, beloved children's writer and artist whose book "Where the Wild Things Are" is considered the classic illustrated children's book has finally come out. At the age of 80, Mr. Sendak has suffered a nagging grief since the death of his longtime partner, Dr. Eugene Glynn. Now, he has finally gone public with his sexual orientation. He feared that doing so early in his career would make his work less marketable.

His latest book was begin about four years ago, right after Dr. Glynn became sick with lung cancer. The work helped to take his mind off the illness, but also was a product of his fear that he didn't have much time left.

Now as his 80th birthday approaches, he ponders the sell out o f tickets for the event at the 92nd Street Y in New York. In a new York Times interview he mused, “they must be coming to see the other people,” referring to the star studded list of attendees.

Happy birthday Mr. Sendak!