Chris Van Allsburg (born June 18, 1949) is an American illustrator and writer of children's books. He has won two

Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Servic ...

s for U.S. picture book illustration, for ''

Jumanji ''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. Loosely based on Chris Van Allsburg's picture book of the same name, the film is the first ...

'' (1981) and ''

The Polar Express ''The Polar Express'' is a children's book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1985. The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children. It was praised for its detai ...

'' (1985), both of which he also wrote, and were later

adapted In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

as successful motion pictures. He was also a Caldecott runner-up in 1980 for ''

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi ''The Garden of Abdul Gasazi'' () is a best-selling children's picture book written in 1979 by the American author Chris Van Allsburg. ''The Garden of Abdul Gasazi'' was the first book written by Van Allsburg, for which he won a Caldecott Honor ...

''. For his contribution as a children's illustrator, he was a 1986 U.S. nominee for the biennial International Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition for creators of children's books. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Michigan in April 2012.

Life and career

Van Allsburg was born on June 18, 1949 to a

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

family in

East Grand Rapids, Michigan East Grand Rapids is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,694. The city is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is surrounded by Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Township, ...

, the second child of Doris Christianen and Richard Van Allsburg. He has a sister named Karen, born in 1947. His family lived in an old farmhouse, but when he was three years old, they moved to a Grand Rapids home near an elementary school that Chris was able to walk to for class. His family moved again to East Grand Rapids where he attended middle school and high school. Van Allsburg attended the College of Architecture and Design at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

, which at that time included an art school. He majored in sculpture, learning bronze casting, wood carving, resin molding, and other techniques. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972 and continued his education at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), graduating with a master's degree in sculpture in 1975. After graduation, Van Allsburg set up a sculpture studio. Van Allsburg struggled for a time with his sculpture studio. At home he began a series of sketches that his wife thought would be suitable for children's books. She showed his work to an editor who contracted his first book, ''

'', in 1979. As of 2022, Van Allsburg has written and/or illustrated 21 books. His art has also been featured on the covers of an edition of C. S. Lewis's series '' The Chronicles of Narnia'', published by HarperCollins in 1994, as well as in three children's books written by

Mark Helprin Mark Helprin (born June 28, 1947) is an American novelist, journalist, conservative commentator, Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy, Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and M ...

Personal life

Van Allsburg lives in Beverly, Massachusetts with Lisa Van Allsburg, his wife since 1974. They have two daughters, Sophia and Anna. Van Allsburg converted to

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in t ...

, his spouse's faith.

Works

Picture children's books: * ''

'' (1979), a Caldecott runner-up *''Jumanji'' series: *# ''

'' (1981), a

winner *# ''

Zathura ''Zathura'' is a 2002 science fiction children's literature, children's picture book written and illustrated by American author Chris Van Allsburg. In the story, two boys are drawn into an intergalactic space adventure when their house is magic ...

'' (2002) * ''Ben's Dream'' (1982) * ''

The Wreck of the Zephyr ''The Wreck of the Zephyr'' is a children's book written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg, first published by Houghton Mifflin in March 1983. Plot While exploring the seaside clifftop near a small fishing village, the nar ...

'' (1983) * '' The Mysteries of Harris Burdick'', or ''The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales'' (first ed., 1984; portfolio ed., 1994), with

Lois Lowry Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet,'' ''Number the Stars'', and '' Rabble Starkey.'' She is known for writing ...

Kate DiCamillo Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's fiction author. She has published over 25 novels, including '' Because of Winn-Dixie'', ''The Tiger Rising'', ''The Tale of Despereaux'', ''The Miraculous Journey ...

, M. T. Anderson,

Louis Sachar Louis Sachar ( ; born March 20, 1954) is an American young-adult mystery-comedy author. He is best known for the ''Wayside School'' series and the novel '' Holes''. ''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature< ...

, Stephen King,

Tabitha King Tabitha Jane King ( Spruce, born March 24, 1949) is an American author. Early life Tabitha King is the third eldest daughter of Sarah Jane Spruce (née White; December 7, 1923 – April 14, 2007) and Raymond George Spruce (December 29, 1923 ...

Jon Scieszka Jon Scieszka ( :) (born September 8, 1954) is an American children's writer, best known for picture books created with the illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and the founder of Guys Read – a web-based li ...

, Sherman Alexie,

Gregory Maguire Gregory Maguire (born June 9, 1954) is an American novelist. He is the author of '' Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'', '' Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister'', and several dozen other novels for adults and children. Many ...

Cory Doctorow Cory Efram Doctorow (; born July 17, 1971) is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who served as co-editor of the blog '' Boing Boing''. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of ...

Jules Feiffer Jules Ralph Feiffer (born January 26, 1929)''Comics Buyer's Guide'' #1650; February 2009; Page 107 is an American cartoonist and author, who was considered the most widely read satirist in the country. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 as North- ...

, Linda Sue Park and Walter Dean Myers * ''

'' (1985), a

winner * '' The Stranger'' (1986) * '' The Z Was Zapped'' (1987) * '' Two Bad Ants'' (1988) * ''Just a Dream'' (1990) * '' The Wretched Stone'' (1991) * '' The Widow's Broom'' (1992) * '' The Sweetest Fig'' (1993) * '' Bad Day at Riverbend'' (1995) * '' Probuditi!'' (2006) * '' Queen of the Falls'' (2011) * ''The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie'' (2014)

Adaptations

* ''

'' (1995), film directed by

Joe Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston II (born May 13, 1950) is an American film director, producer, writer, and visual effects artist. He is best known for directing effects-driven films, including ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), ''Jumanji'' (1995 ...

, based on children's book ''

'' * ''

'' (1996-1999), animated series, based on children's book ''Jumanji'' * ''

'' (2004), film directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on children's book ''

'' * '' Zathura: A Space Adventure'' (2005), film directed by Jon Favreau, based on children's book ''

'' * '' Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'' (2017), film directed by

Jake Kasdan Jacob Kasdan (born October 28, 1974) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for directing '' Walk Hard'' (2007), ''Bad Teacher'' (2011), ''Sex Tape'' (2014), '' Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'' (2017) and '' Jumanji: The Next Level' ...

, based on children's book ''Jumanji'' * '' Jumanji: The Next Level'' (2019), film directed by Jake Kasdan, based on children's book ''Jumanji''

Films

*''

The Little Mermaid "The Little Mermaid" ( da, Den lille havfrue) is a literary fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a ...

'' (1989), visual development artist *''

'' (1995), screen story writer *''

How to Deal ''How to Deal'' is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Clare Kilner and starring Mandy Moore, Allison Janney, and Trent Ford. The film is based on Sarah Dessen's novels '' That Summer'' and '' Someone like You''. Plot Halley M ...

'' (2003), executive producer *''

'' (2004), executive producer

References

External links

*
Interview with Chris Van Allsburg
at Developmental Studies Center * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Van Allsburg, Chris 1949 births American children's writers American science fiction writers Caldecott Medal winners American children's book illustrators Converts to Judaism Jewish American artists Jewish American writers Artists from Grand Rapids, Michigan People from East Grand Rapids, Michigan Rhode Island School of Design alumni Writers from Grand Rapids, Michigan Writers who illustrated their own writing Rhode Island School of Design faculty University of Michigan alumni Living people 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American male novelists 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers Novelists from Michigan American people of Dutch descent 21st-century American Jews