“It’s the two levels of writing—one visible, one invisible—that fascinate me most… There’s a mystery there: a clue, a nut, a bolt, and when I put it together, I find me.”

—Maurice Sendak, Interview with Jonathan Cott, Rolling Stone, 1976

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Maurice Sendak has revolutionized the world of children's literature and inspired millions with books that include Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup with Rice. But what lies beyond Where the Wild Things Are? This exhibition explores the powerful mingling of fantasy, memory, and mystery that takes place in the undiscovered territories of Sendak’s many books.   There’s a Mystery There brings visitors closer to Sendak’s wild imagination than ever before, using original artwork to explore the intensely personal undercurrents and mysteries in his illustrations. Guiding them through this uncharted terrain is Sendak himself, whose remarkable stories form the backbone of the exhibition. Visitors will enjoy 100 original illustrations from their favorite books, as well as exclusive interview footage of Sendak explaining his work and inspirations.  This exhibition is brought to you by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, the sole repository of Sendak's picture book artwork. The first stop on its tour, the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, recieved over 50,000 visitors from September 8, 2009, to January 19, 2010 (click HERE to visit the CJM's exhibition page). The exhibition is available to two additional venues throughout the U.S.

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There’s A Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak was created thanks to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The national tour is presented by HarperCollins Children’s Books.