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Author photo. Author of children's books Chris Van Allsburg (right) and NASA engineer Jennifer Keyes (center) speak with Digital Learning Network host Rachael Manzer during a live videoconference on Nov. 16 at Langley Research Center. Photo by Jeff Caplan. (nasa.gov)

Author of children's books Chris Van Allsburg (right) and NASA engineer Jennifer Keyes (center) speak with Digital Learning Network host Rachael Manzer during a live videoconference on Nov. 16 at Langley Research Center. Photo by Jeff Caplan. (nasa.gov)

Chris Van Allsburg

Author of The Polar Express

Includes the names: Chris van Alsburg, Chis Van Allsburg, Chris V. Allsburg, Chris Van Allaburg, allsburg van chris, Chris Van Allsberg, Chris Van Allsburg, VAN ALLSBURG CHRIS, Van Chris Allsburgh, Christ Van Allsburg ... (see complete list), Крис Ван Олсбург, By (author) Chris Van Allsburg, Chris Vanallsburg Van Allsburg, Chris Van Allsburg (Ke li si Fan Ai si bo ge), Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

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Considered to be one of the foremost authors and illustrators of surrealistic fantasy for children, Chris Van Allsburg was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1949. He received his B. F. A. at the University of Michigan and his M. F. A. at the Rhode Island School of Design. He married Lisa Morrison and currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. Van Allsburg's work is highly praised for the excellent artisanship of his illustrations, which often have a surreal element. His first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (1979), concerning a lost dog found by a magician, and his second book, Jumanji (1981), about a strange board game that comes to life, brought him quick praise. Jumanji won the Caldecott Medal in 1982. The Polar Express (1985), Van Allsburg's most popular book, deals with the idea that the ability to believe in things beyond one's experiences helps to keep a person young. It also won a Caldecott Medal in 1986. Other books by Van Allsburg include The Z was Zapped, and Just a Dream, a story about a boy who learns to be ecological. Van Allsburg's sculptures have also been exhibited at many New York galleries. (Bowker Author Biography)
— biography from The Polar Express
… (more)
Series
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Works by Chris Van Allsburg
The Polar Express 8,598 copies, 448 reviews
Jumanji 2,906 copies, 219 reviews
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick 1,476 copies, 77 reviews
Just a Dream 1,171 copies, 45 reviews
Two Bad Ants 1,079 copies, 50 reviews
The Widow's Broom 878 copies, 43 reviews
Zathura 871 copies, 71 reviews
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi 844 copies, 69 reviews
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales 803 copies, 45 reviews
The Stranger 784 copies, 55 reviews
The Z Was Zapped: A Play in Twenty-Six Acts 751 copies, 72 reviews
The Sweetest Fig 682 copies, 49 reviews
The Wreck of the Zephyr 629 copies, 21 reviews
The Wretched Stone 581 copies, 31 reviews
A City in Winter (Illustrator) 413 copies, 3 reviews
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Also by Chris Van Allsburg
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Cover artist, some editions) 41,470 copies, 711 reviews
The Chronicles of Narnia (Cover artist, some editions) 32,803 copies, 293 reviews
The Magician's Nephew (Cover artist, some editions) 26,410 copies, 331 reviews
Prince Caspian (Cover artist, some editions) 23,793 copies, 215 reviews
The Horse and His Boy (Cover artist, some editions) 22,923 copies, 215 reviews
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Cover artist, some editions) 22,828 copies, 231 reviews
The Silver Chair (Cover artist, some editions) 21,469 copies, 171 reviews
The Last Battle (Cover artist, some editions) 20,993 copies, 173 reviews
Guys Write for Guys Read (Illustrator) 735 copies, 13 reviews
From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs (Illustrator) 615 copies, 2 reviews
Swan Lake (Illustrator) 604 copies, 4 reviews
Jumanji [1995 film] (Original story) 571 copies, 7 reviews
Jumanji (Novelization) (Contributor) 148 copies, 22 reviews
The Big Book For Our Planet (Cover artist) 122 copies
For Our Children: A Book to Benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation (Illustrator) 26 copies, 1 review
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Canonical name
Legal name
Other names
Date of birth
1949-06-18
Date of death
Burial location
Gender
male
Nationality
USA
Country (for map)
Birthplace
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Place of death
Cause of death
Places of residence
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Education
University of Michigan
Rhode Island School of Design (MFA)
Occupations
children's book author
illustrator
Relationships
Agents
Organizations
Awards and honors
Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award (Contemporary ∙ 2009)
Regina Medal (1993)
Short biography
Disambiguation notice

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