Maurice Sendak, one of the most celebrated authors and illustrators whose famous works In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are revolutionized children’s books with its angsty elements, died early Tuesday in Danbury, Conn., after having a stroke on Friday, according to friend Lynn Caponera. He was 83.

Sendak, who is considered a cornerstone for the genre, left a legacy of children’s books and generations of hardcore fans.