The world feels a little less wild today with the sad news that one of the greatest storytellers of our time has passed.

Character Approved children's author Maurice Sendak died today in Connecticut at age 83, reportedly from complications from a stroke.

His most famed and celebrated work was Where the Wild Things Are, a book that was adapted to the big screen by Spike Jonze in 2009. This dark but funny tale of giant monsters changed the face of children's literature and went on to become one of the top 10 all-time bestsellers in the genre. It's a favorite of many, including President Barack Obama, who read from it at this year's White House Easter celebration:

Sendak penned and illustrated more than a dozen books in all and illustrated nearly 100 others.

Though we've lost a great artist, as long as children love stories Maurice Sendak's genius--and his most famous character, Max--will live on in the hearts and minds of generations to come.

Let the wild rumpus start.

[Image: Joyce Dopkeen via the New York Times]