Before Maurice Sendak became famous for his Where the Wild Things Are (1963), he illustrated the works of others, including Dr Maxwell Leigh Eidinoffs Atomics for the Millions (1947), Robert Garveys Good Shabbos Everybody (1951), and Ruth Krausss A Hole is to Dig (1952).
The life of an illustrator came earlier to Sendak; viewing Walt Disneys film Fantasia at the age of twelve was the defining moment.
Another book from this early period, and which is regarded as Sendaks tribute to Beatrix Potter, is his illustrations to Gravess The Big Green Book. The tale is about young Jack, who finds a big green book of spells and uses it to change his unpleasant aunt and uncle into good ones.