http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Sendak

One of the most successful illustrators of the 20th century. Since 1951 his 90-odd titles have sold nearly 30m copies in the US alone. His renowned work Where the Wild Things Are (1963), with worldwide sales of more than 19m, was a turning point not only in his own career but in the history of children's books.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/maurice-sendak-dead-where-wild-things-author-83-131056958.html