SENDAK, Maurice. Seven Little Stories on Big Subjects. Being: On Your Mark; Jacob’s Friendliest Town; The Crankiest Man on Main Street; Down the Old Bear Trail; Johnny Red Feather; Lonesome Feet; and The Secret. NY: Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith [1955]. 7 volumes; the first six being 12pp each, the last being 8pp. Multi-colored paper wrappers and housed in a color pictorial box. Illustrated in b&w throughout. Each pamphlet bears the owner’s name neatly written in ink on front, each with light sticker residue at bottom left corner of front panel, volume 6 with a light stain on front, otherwise all fine copies in original color pictorial box (owner’s name erased from front but retaining address in ink, wear around edges with right corners split, closed tear at center of right side of front box). Rare.

First editions. A set of seven fragile pamphlets created early in Sendak’s career for the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. Covering themes of acceptance and responsibility in a diverse and confusing world, these poignant early works by Sendak wonderfully portray his empathic range.