By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Rosenbach Museum and Library is opening a year-long tribute to author and illustrator Maurice Sendak. Admission will be free for tomorrow’s opening day.

The year-long exhibition opens on what would have been Maurice Sendak’s 84th birthday. The author of Where the Wild Things Are and many others died in May. Patrick Rodgers, the museum’s traveling exhibitions coordinator, says Sendak has had a decades-long relationship with the Rosenbach, stretching back to the 60’s.

“We really wanted to explore what his legacy will be going forward and really the best way to do this is through his artwork. He was an incredibly prolific illustrator and author and so much of that — over 10,000 pieces — are all stored on site here at the museum.”

Rogers says the idea is to celebrate the legacy of the author.

“It really gives you a huge sense of what he was like as an illustrator and an author and a thinker and a person and a reader. And (he’s) one of the most interesting people that I’ve ever met and definitely that so many people know through reading his books.”

The museum is located at 20th and Delancey Streets in Philadelphia.