This spring the world of children's literature lost two of its brightest stars, Maurice Sendak and Jean Craighead George. Sendak will best be remembered for his picture book Where the Wild Things Are, which was published in 1964 and won the Caldecott Award. In this book a little boy named Max creates a fantasy world full of "wild things" after being sent to his room. The movie version of the book was released in 2009, bringing the book to the attention of a new audience.Sendak's honest depiction of childhood fears and the darker side of our imaginations made him a pioneer in children's literature. When Sendak began working, the writers, illustrators and editors of his time believed that picture books should make children feel safe and protected. He believed that children would enjoy books with naughty characters, perilous plot twists and ambiguous endings. Judging by his success, he was right.

Two of Jean Craighead George's best known works are My Side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves, which won the Newbery Award in 1972. George grew up with parents who were naturalists, and she spent her childhood days climbing trees, fishing and exploring the natural world. As an adult, she became a journalist and was one of the first women to join the White House Press Corps. After her children were born, she rediscovered her love of nature and made outdoor adventures a big part of her family's life. The menagerie of wild animals who made a home in her house and yard provided inspiration for her books. She herself was a force of nature and, like Sendak, was known to be opinionated and strongwilled when it came to her beliefs. She hoped that through reading her stories, children would learn to care about and protect the creatures and habitats that she dearly loved.

It is interesting that both of these writers had their works challenged and placed on banned book lists. Sendak and George were fearless and principled, never letting public opinion dictate what they would write and draw. Although they will be missed by many readers, young and old, it is reassuring to know that they will live on through their work.