New York: Hyperion, (2003.). First edition - 'Created in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner; one of the landmark books of Sendak's illustrious career.' A re-telling in words and pictures of the Czech opera, "Brundibar" ('Bumblebee') by Hans Krasa. The opera was performed 55 times by the children-prisoners of the Terezin concentration camp, where Krasa himself was also imprisoned, before they were deported to and killed in Auschwitz by the Nazis. Not just a children's book, this is a book for all ages. This uncommon advance issue, the first appearance of this work, is the same size as the projected book, but it contains 24 pages, while the finished book is expected to contain 56 pp. The complete story is there, but not all of the Sendak illustrations - nevertheless, there is a generous supply of illustrations, including some gorgeous two page spreads. Letter from the publisher on the first page, and publication information on the back cover. In a stiff, glossy, illustrated folder with brief biographies of Kushner and Sendak on the side flaps.