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Quiz about Maurice Sendak More Than a Childrens Author

Maurice Sendak -- More Than a Children's Author Quiz

Maurice Sendak is probably best known by parents who have read stories by him or with his illustrations to their children and grandchildren. How much do you know about this creative genius, who died on May 8, 2012?

A multiple-choice quiz by gable. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
gable

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
320,741

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
231

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where was Maurice Sendak born? Hint

Ridgefield, CT

Brooklyn, NY

Philadelphia, PA

Warsaw, Poland

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Question 2 of 10

2. Where is the repository of Maurice Sendak's artwork and working materials? Hint

Boston, MA

Brooklyn, NY

Philadelphia, PA

Washington, DC

3. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Maurice Sendak won the Medal in 1964 for a book he both wrote and illustrated. What was the title of the book? Hint

A Hole is to Dig

Where the Wild Things Are

Higglety Piggety Pop!

The Sign on Rosie's Door

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Question 4 of 10

4. For which popular magazine did Maurice Sendak design the cover for the 1976 Christmas edition? Hint

New York Review of Books

Bon Appetit

Highlights for Children

Rolling Stone

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Question 5 of 10

5. Sendak has designed the sets and costumes for operas and ballets. By the time of his 80th birthday, he had worked on each of the following opera productions, with the exception of which one? Hint

Carmen

Hansel and Gretel

The Magic Flute

The Nutcracker

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Question 6 of 10

6. What aspect of Sendak's children's book "In the Night Kitchen" has been controversial? Hint

The bakers are cruel to mix Mickey in batter

The parents are not visible

It celebrates insomnia

The little boy Mickey is naked

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Question 7 of 10

7. What well-known American playwright collaborated with Sendak in his opera Brundibar? Hint

Tony Kushner

Wendy Wasserstein

David Mamet

August Wilson

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who directed the 2009 live action film of Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are"? Hint

Stephen Spielberg

Nick Park

Jim Henson

Spike Jonze

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Question 9 of 10

9. Sendak's musical play "Really Rosie" featured content from his "Nutshell Library" including Rosie, Pierre, Chicken Soup with Rice, and Pierre. It played 274 performances Off Broadway with lyrics and sets by Sendak. Who wrote the music? Hint

Carole King

Elton John

Andrew Lloyd Weber

Leonard Bernstein

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Question 10 of 10

10. In a 2008 interview Sendak admitted to a secret that he had kept hidden from the public and his parents for 50 years. What was the secret? Hint

He took books from the library without checking them out

He was colorblind

He was gay

He pilfered change from the coat pockets of elderly relatives when they visited

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where was Maurice Sendak born?

Answer: Brooklyn, NY

Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1928. His parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe. His father's profession was dressmaker, but Philip Sendak also was a storyteller and some of his stories have been published with his son's illustrations.

2. Where is the repository of Maurice Sendak's artwork and working materials?

Answer: Philadelphia, PA

The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, PA is the place where Sendak's artwork and working materials are stored. This includes wonderful miniature prototypes the "Nutshell Library", a four volume boxed set stories including "Alligators All Around", "Pierre", and "Chicken Soup with Rice."

Answer: Where the Wild Things Are

The Caldecott Medal is sponsored by the American Library Association. Not only did Sendak win the medal for "Where the Wild Things Are" in 1964, but his illustrations were recognized as "Honor Books" for the following books:
"Outside Over There" 1982
"In the Night Kitchen" 1971
"Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present" 1991 (Text by Charlotte Zolotow)
"Little Bear's Visit" 1961 (Text by Elsie Minarik)
"What Do You Say Dear?" 1957 (Text by Sesyle Joslin)
"A Very Special House" 1954 (Text by Ruth Krauss)

4. For which popular magazine did Maurice Sendak design the cover for the 1976 Christmas edition?

Answer: Rolling Stone

The cover of the December 22, 1975 issue of Rolling Stone features a Sendak "Wild Thing" standing in for a Christmas tree (with some pine boughs at its hips.) Two Sendak character children dressed in winter clothes with Santa-style hats are hanging decorations on the monster.

There are cartoon balloon comments coming from the children's mouths. The boy says "Some swell tree" to which the girl replies "Wild". The diagonal content teaser in the upper right corner of the cover points to an article by Jonathan Cott titled "Maurice Sendak - King of the Wild Things." http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/5392218/1976_rolling_stone_covers/photo/27

5. Sendak has designed the sets and costumes for operas and ballets. By the time of his 80th birthday, he had worked on each of the following opera productions, with the exception of which one?

Answer: Carmen

Sendak loves Mozart and he started designing theatre productions. His first production was the Houston Grand Opera production of Mozart's "Magic Flute". To see some of his designs, find the book "The Art of Maurice Sendak: 1980 to Present" by Tony Kushner and Maurice Sendak.

6. What aspect of Sendak's children's book "In the Night Kitchen" has been controversial?

Answer: The little boy Mickey is naked

Mickey falls out of his pyjamas and gets covered with bread dough but the naked boy has anatomical details which upset prudish librarians. In some cases, individuals have drawn on underwear or pasted on a paper diaper.

7. What well-known American playwright collaborated with Sendak in his opera Brundibar?

Answer: Tony Kushner

Tony Kushner is best known for his multipart play "Angels in America." He and Sendak collaborated on "Brundibar" which recounts a children's play produced by the children of the Terezin concentration camp under the Nazis.

8. Who directed the 2009 live action film of Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are"?

Answer: Spike Jonze

This film which opened in November 2009 featured a combination of live action and animatronic actors. Child actor Max Records played the lead role. Sendak himself was one of the producers along with Tom Hanks and several others. Jim Henson died in May 1990 of a streptococcal infection.

However, his "Creature Shop" continues and designed the animatronic suits for the wild things production. Commerical products created as outgrowths of this film have included stuffed animals, skateboards, and shoes.

Answer: Carole King

Carole King is an American singer-songwriter (born in 1942) best known for her 1971 album "Tapestry" which won 4 Grammy awards and featured songs like "It's Too Late" and "Far Away". Her music for the Sendak musical is delightful.

10. In a 2008 interview Sendak admitted to a secret that he had kept hidden from the public and his parents for 50 years. What was the secret?

Answer: He was gay

Sendak acknowledged this biographical fact in a 2008 interview published in the New York Times. Sendak's partner of 50 years, psychoanalyst Dr. Eugene Glynn, died in 2007 of lung cancer.

Source: Author gable

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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