Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom

New York, NY, U.S.A.: HarperCollins Children's Book Group, 1998. First Edition, First Printing. Cloth & Boards. Fine/Fine. Signed by Maurice Sendak! Our Maurice Sendak Collection at Parrish Books would not be complete without this wonderful book, a First Edition, First printing featuring the letters of a person Mr. Sendak has described to us as the most influential person in his career, Ursula Nordstrom, director of Harper's Department of Books for Boys and Girls from 1940 to 1973. This is a book of her letters to the talented authors and illustrators working on books for her and Harper during those years. Nordstrom met Sendak when he was "twenty-two-and-a-half" year-old, working in the window display department of F.A.O. Schwarz and the store's children's book buyer, Frances Chrystie, arranged a meeting between the two. A day later, Nordstrom offered Sendak the assignment of illustrating "The Wonderful Farm" and a long and productive relationship for both had begun. The book includes many wonderful letters from Nordstrom to her artists and authors to Sendak including one that includes "...Now you're rich and famous and need no words of wonder from me. But I must send them, anyhow, when I look through 'Where The Wild Things Are.' It is it is utterly magnificent..." This book is in fine unread condition, protected by an archival plastic cover. An important signature.