Chris Van Allsburg (born June 18, 1949) is an American writer and illustrator 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 Service ...
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, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
'' (1981) and ''
The Polar Express'' (1985), both of which he also wrote, and were later
adapted as successful motion pictures. He was also a Caldecott runner-up in 1980 for ''
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi''.
[ For his contribution as a children's illustrator, he was a 1986 U.S. nominee for the biennial International ]Hans Christian Andersen Award
The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...
, 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 family in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...
, the second child of Doris Christianen and Richard Van Allsburg. He has an older sister named Karen, born in 1947. Van Allsburg and 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 so that Chris was able to walk to class. His family moved again to where he attended middle school and high school.[
Van Allsburg attended the College of Architecture and Design at the ]University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
, which at that time included an art school. He majored in sculpture, learning bronze casting, wood carving, resin molding, and other techniques.
Van Allsburg graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972 and continued his education at the Rhode Island School of Design
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...
(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, Van Allsburg began a series of sketches that his wife Lisa thought would be suitable for children's books. She showed his work to an editor who contracted his first book, '' The Garden of Abdul Gasazi'', 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
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer, literary scholar and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford (1925–1954), and Magdalen ...
's series ''The Chronicles of Narnia
''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven portal fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, the series is set in the fictional realm of Narnia (wor ...
'', published by HarperCollins in 1994, as well as in three children's books written by Mark Helprin.
Personal life
Van Allsburg lives in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...
, with his wife Lisa. They have two daughters, Sophia and Anna. Upon marrying his wife, Van Allsburg converted to Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
, the latter's faith.[
]
Works
Picture children's books:
* '' The Garden of Abdul Gasazi'' (1979), a Caldecott runner-up
* ''Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
'' (1981), a 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 Service ...
winner
* '' Ben's Dream'' (1982)
* '' The Wreck of the Zephyr'' (1983)
* '' The Mysteries of Harris Burdick'' (1984)
* '' The Polar Express'' (1985), a 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 Service ...
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)
* '' Zathura'' (2002)
* '' Probuditi!'' (2006)
* '' Queen of the Falls'' (2011)
* '' The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie'' (2014)
Other books:
* ''Swan Lake
''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoje ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, links=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failu ...
'' (1989) Illustrator, written by Mark Helprin
* '' A City In Winter'' (1996) Illustrator, written by Mark Helprin
* '' The Veil of Snows'' (1997) Illustrator, written by Mark Helprin
* '' The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales'' (2011) with Lois Lowry
Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; born March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of many books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet'', '' Number the Stars'', the Anastasia series, and '' Rabble Starkey''. ...
, Kate DiCamillo, 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 (book series), Wayside School'' series and the novel ''Holes (novel), Holes''.
''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. Nationa ...
, Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...
, Tabitha King
Tabitha "Tabby" Jane King ( Spruce, born March 24, 1949) is an American author.
Early life
Born in Old Town, Maine, Tabitha King is the third eldest daughter of Sarah Jane Spruce (née White; December 7, 1923 – April 14, 2007) and Raymond ...
, Jon Scieszka, Sherman Alexie
Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. (born October 7, 1966) is a Native American novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His writings draw on his experiences as an Indigenous American with ancestry from several tribes. He grew up ...
, Gregory Maguire
Gregory Maguire (born June 9, 1954) is an American novelist. He is the author of ''Wicked (Maguire novel), Wicked'', ''Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister'', and several dozen other novels for adults and children. Many of Maguire's adult novels are ...
, Cory Doctorow
Cory Efram Doctorow (; born 17 July 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 th ...
, Jules Feiffer
Jules Ralph Feiffer ( ; January 26, 1929 – January 17, 2025) was an American cartoonist and author, who at one time was considered the most widely read satirist in the country. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for Pulitzer Prize for Editori ...
, Linda Sue Park and Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New York City ...
Adaptations
* ''Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
'' (1995), film directed by Joe Johnston, based on children's book ''Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
''
* ''Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
'' (1996–1999), animated series, based on children's book ''Jumanji''
* '' The Polar Express'' (2004), film directed by Robert Zemeckis
Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker known for directing and producing a range of successful and influential movies, often blending cutting-edge visual effects with storytelling. He has received several accolades incl ...
, based on children's book '' The Polar Express''
* '' Zathura: A Space Adventure'' (2005), film directed by Jon Favreau
Jonathan Kolia Favreau ( ; born October 19, 1966) is an American actor and filmmaker. As an actor, Favreau has appeared in films such as ''Rudy (film), Rudy'' (1993), ''PCU (film), PCU'' (1994), ''Swingers (1996 film), Swingers'' (1996), ''Very ...
, based on children's book '' Zathura''
* '' 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: The Dewey Cox Story'' (2007), ''Bad Teacher'' (2011), ''Sex Tape (film), Sex Tape'' (2014), ''Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'' (2 ...
, based on children's book ''Jumanji''
* '' Jumanji: The Next Level'' (2019), film directed by Jake Kasdan, based on children's book ''Jumanji''
* ''The Nutcracker'' (2024), Grand Rapids Ballet set and production designed by Chris Van Allsburg and Euguene Lee[https://grballet.com/the-nutcracker/]
Films
*'' The Little Mermaid'' (1989), visual development artist
*''Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the 1981 children's picture book by Chris Van Allsburg. The film is the first ins ...
'' (1995), screen story writer
*'' How to Deal'' (2003), executive producer
*'' The Polar Express'' (2004), executive producer
References
External links
*
Interview with Chris Van Allsburg
at Developmental Studies Center
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Allsburg, Chris
1949 births
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American novelists
21st-century American Jews
21st-century American male writers
21st-century American novelists
American children's book illustrators
American children's writers
American male novelists
American people of Dutch descent
American science fiction writers
Artists from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Caldecott Medal winners
Converts to Judaism
Jewish American artists
Jewish American children's writers
Living people
Novelists from Michigan
People from East Grand Rapids, Michigan
Rhode Island School of Design alumni
Rhode Island School of Design faculty
University of Michigan alumni
Writers from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Writers who illustrated their own writing