If you visited Google's homepage today, you will have seen their Google Doodle tribute to author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.
Sendak, best known for his book "Where the Wild Things Are," died last May after suffering a stroke. Today would have been his 85th birthday.
The elaborate Google Doodle features an animated ‘tour' through some of Sendak's most loved books. It starts with Max, the character from the 1963 favorite Where the Wild Things Are. He leads us through the scenes of the book, including his vine-covered room, a parade with the Wild Things, and his private boat.
The scene then spins into 1970's The Night Kitchen, where Mickey flies through a city made from teapots and bags of flour, chased by the night bakers. Lastly, characters from Sendak's last work, 2011's Bumble-Ardy, come in with balloons and lollipops and all the characters join together for an 85th birthday party.
Although considered mainly a children's author, Sendak always insisted that he didn't write for children or adults - he just wrote.
"In the discussion of children, and the lives of children, and the fantasies of children, and the language of children, I said anything I wanted, because I don't believe in children," Sendak said in the documentary 'Tell Them Anything You Want,' according to CSMonitor. "I don't believe in childhood. I don't believe there's a demarcation of ‘you mustn't tell them this, you mustn't tell them that.' You tell them anything you want."
Google Doodle is known for its celebratory, commemorative or factual Doodles. Some other great tribute Doodles include the 2012 interactive guitar commemorating musician Les Paul, 2011's stop-motion tribute to Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby, and, in 2010, the first animated Doodle ever, in celebration of what would have been Beatle John Lennon's 70th birthday.
This particular doodle first appeared on New Zealand's Google homepage. Clicking on the Google Doodle will take a user a Google search results page filled with Sendak information, including links to Sendek's Wikipedia page and Amazon Author page.
