Wild Things are Roaring at RCPL

In 1993, RCPL completed an unprecedented program of expansion, growth and renewed vision. The crowning achievement was the opening of the 242,000-square-foot Main Library on Assembly Street in downtown Columbia. The Main Library will reach its 10th anniversary in February, and the Richland County Public Library is celebrating the many milestones of the library system with a series of special events.

Celebrate RCPL and Maurice Sendak

Where the Wild Things Are: Maurice Sendak In His Own Words and Pictures,” an interactive exhibit for children of all ages, opens to the public free of charge on February 3 as a part of the library’s tenth anniversary celebration.

Maurice Sendak, often called the Picasso of children’s books, has written and illustrated more than 100 books. The exhibit explores his past and the reasons it remains an inspiration to him and includes colorful, interactive pieces that allow children and adults to recreate their favorite Sendak stories. Children can slide into a giant bowl of chicken soup from Chicken Soup With Rice, become Max and steer the boat that led him to where the Wild Things are and even create their own Wild Thing costume.

Where the Wild Things Are marked a turning point in Maurice Sendak’s career, representing, in his words, “the end of a long apprenticeship.” He felt that all the work he had done to that point was merely preparation for creating this work. Its publication, for which he received the coveted Caldecott Medal in 1964, confirmed his place as an internationally famous children’s book author-illustrator.

Sendak’s contribution to the world of children’s literature has been profound. With his unique ability to capture the joys, fears and insecurities of childhood, he has revolutionized the content of children’s books, expanding the limits of what is considered appropriate for young people. Sendak has received numerous awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen International Medal in 1970 (the first American to be so honored), the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 1983 and the 1996 National Medal of Arts awarded by President Bill Clinton.

This special Sendak exhibit, which opened in Atlanta before appearing in New York and Los Angeles, will make its only appearance at a public library at RCPL. See the exhibit free of charge during regular library hours from February 3 through May 18.

Group tours are welcome but must be scheduled in advance. Call Lorraine Catoe at 803-929-3457.

More about Maurice Sendak

One of the preeminent children’s book authors and illustrators of the twentieth century, Maurice Sendak has produced more than a dozen books of his own as well as illustrating more than 70 stories by other authors.

Sendak is well known both for his distinctive illustrations and for his stories, which explore, in honest and unsentimental terms, how children deal with their fears and emotions through fantasy. Sendak’s career has also included film adaptation and set and costume design for a variety of theatrical productions.

Sendak’s contribution to the world of children’s literature has been profound. With his unique ability to capture the joys, fears and insecurities of childhood, he has revolutionized the content of children’s books, expanding the limits of what is considered appropriate for young people.

In recognition of his achievements, Sendak has received numerous awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen International Medal in 1970 for his body of illustration work (the first American to be so honored), the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 1983 for his “substantial and lasting contribution to children’s literature,” and the 1996 National Medal of Arts awarded by President Bill Clinton.

About the Exhibit

Wild Things Are Roaring at the Richland County Public Library with a special interactive exhibit - “Where the Wild Things Are: Maurice Sendak in His Own Words and Pictures.” The following books and items are featured in the exhibit.

Additional Events Focus on Eric Carle

On February 14, 2003, the Main Library building, the downtown facility of the Richland County Public Library system, will turn 10, and the library is celebrating with special events involving Eric Carle. Carle is the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for children.

Eric Carle’s distinctive use of collage, bold design, bright colors and creativity resonate with children and adults alike. He has won countless awards for his work, including a Silver Medal from the City of Milan, University of Southern Mississippi Medallion and Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association. Students across Richland County will have the opportunity to see Carle’s best-known works The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Quiet Cricket come to life onstage. The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will be in Columbia to perform its blacklight puppetry production of Carle’s two popular books. Large, colorful puppets, accompanied by spirited music and the soothing voice of a narrator, tell the tales of a caterpillar who eats his way to becoming a beautiful butterfly and a cricket who finds his voice only when the right cricket comes along. Nine performances are scheduled for schools, and a public performance will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 15 at the Richland District Two Auditorium, Richland Northeast High School, 7500 Brookfield Rd. General admission only. $8 adults. $5 children. To charge tickets, call (803) 929-3475 (Visa, MasterCard and Discover) or send a check to Friends of RCPL, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. Prior to the public performance, a special book signing with Eric Carle will be held from 11 a.m. to noon at the Main Library. Due to Carle’s popularity, please note that he will only sign books sold by the Friends of RCPL, he will sign no more than three books per person and unfortunately, he will not be able to do any personalization. Questions? Call 929-3474.

More about Eric Carle

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold more than 17 million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.

Eric Carle’s art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added dimension—die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket’s song as in The Very Quiet Cricket—giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched. Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers.

The secret of Eric Carle’s books’ appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature—an interest shared by most small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings, inquisitiveness, creativity and intellectual growth, that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his books such a stimulating and lasting experience