Short Takes

By Staff -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2006

Sendak on Stage

Children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak has teamed with playwright Tony Kushner to stage the World War II-era opera Brundibar. Sendak, who illustrated a book (Hyperion, 2003) based on the work, designed the sets and costumes. The opera recounts how a young brother and sister join forces with talking animals and a throng of children to outwit a sinister organ grinder and earn money to buy milk for their sick mother. Although the lead roles are performed by professional actors, local children make up much of the cast. Following its run in New Haven, CT, from February 10–March 5, the opera will appear at the New Victory Theater, NY, from April 28–May 21.

Collectible Characters

The Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, IL, recently hosted Curious George, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Maisy, and other favorite animal characters straight out of children’s literature. But they weren’t on the pages of a book—they were on U.S. postage stamps. The event, the Five State Great Lakes Area Second Day unveiling ceremony, was an official regional launch of the commemorative 2006 first-class 39-cent stamps, “Favorite Children’s Book Animals.”