NEW YORK— Maurice Sendak Appreciation Day is coming to New York City on June 10.  

Christie’s auction house in Rockefeller Center is partnering with FAO Schwarz and The New York Public Library to celebrate Sendak’s legacy on what would have been the artist and writer’s 97th birthday.  

At 10 AM, FAO Schwarz—where Brooklyn-native Sendak once worked designing store windows and was discovered by his long-time editor Ursula Nordstroma—will host a special Sendak-themed story time by The New York Public Library, followed by giveaways and a take-home craft. The store, located at 30 Rockefeller Center on 49th Street between Sixth and Fifth Avenues, will also offer special displays of Sendak books, collectibles, toys, and other material for the day.

Those participating in the story time should enter the store through the front door on Rockefeller Plaza, head up the stairs to the second floor, and find the famous piano (featured in the film “Big”).

“Christie’s is honored to celebrate the one and only Maurice Sendak, a visionary artist who has delighted and inspired generations of readers and millions of people across the globe,” said Julien Pradels, president of the Americas at Christie’s. “His legacy, influence, and positive impact are immeasurable, and we look forward to a wild morning celebrating all that he has given and continues to give to the world.”  

“We are thrilled to honor Maurice Sendak’s legacy, an artist beloved all over the world, and in particular by our patrons –the Brooklyn native’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ ranked fourth in our top checkouts of all time in honor of our 125th anniversary. His books continue to inspire generations of young readers, proving the transcendent power of stories, art and reading to unite us all,” said Anthony W. Marx, president and CEO of The New York Public Library.

At 11 AM, Christie’s will commence a live auction of a portion of Sendak’s personal collection of art, books, and other materials, all to benefit The Maurice Sendak Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages, teaches and supports artists who tell stories with illustration, and its Sendak Fellowship to support the next generation of children’s book artists. An online auction is being held concurrently.  

A free public exhibition of materials from that auction—all of which personally inspired Sendak—will be on view at Christie’s at 20 Rockefeller Plaza from June 6 to June 10. The exhibition is located on the second floor.

The auction and exhibition include several of Sendak’s own drawings, including sketches made for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and New York Is Book Country.

Other highlights include:

• First printings of William Blake’s hand-illustrated books, “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”
• Drawings by fellow children’s book illustrators Eric Carl, Beatrix Potter, and Randolph Caldecott
• Several pieces of Disney memorabilia, including a tin-plate Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a motorcycle toy circa 1935, an America wool Mickey Mouse rug also circa 1935, and a hand-painted production celluloid from Disney’s “Pinocchio”
• Drawings from popular children’s book The Polar Express
• Much, much more

Maurice Sendak was born on June 10, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland. A largely self-taught artist, Sendak illustrated over 100 books during his 60-year career, delighting children and adults in every corner of the globe, including his hometown of New York City.  

His books include beloved, imaginative classics such as Where the Wild Things Are (which was made into a major motion picture and is one of the top 10 most checked out books in The New York Public Library’s 130-year history), In The Night Kitchen, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and many others.  

Sendak remains the most honored children’s book artist in history. He was the recipient of the 1964 Caldecott Medal, the 1970 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the 1983 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the 2003 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. In 1996, President Bill Clinton presented him with the National Medal of Arts in recognition of his contribution to the arts in America.  

Later in life, Sendak established The Maurice Sendak Foundation, which oversees the publication of his books, promotes his artistic legacy, preserves his home and studio, exhibits his original artwork, and runs The Sendak Fellowship dedicated to supporting the next generation of children’s book artists. This innovative and important fellowship continues to operate years after Sendak’s death in 2012. The Foundation continues to support that legacy, hosting a sale of a small selection of Sendak’s artwork and memorabilia at Christie’s auction house on what would have been Sendak’s 97 birthday. So works that inspired Sendak—an avid collector—will now be used to support artists inspired by Sendak, continuing this visionary artist’s unparalleled legacy.

(Press Release)