Chris Van Allsburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Van Allsburg
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Van Allsburg in 2011
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| Born | June 18, 1949 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan Rhode Island School of Design |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
| Notable works | |
| Notable awards | Caldecott Medal 1982, 1986 |
| Spouse |
Lisa Van Allsburg
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 2 |
Chris Van Allsburg (born June 18, 1949) is a famous American writer and illustrator of children's books. He is well-known for his unique and imaginative stories.
He has won two important awards called the Caldecott Medals. These awards are given for the best illustrations in U.S. picture books. He won for his books Jumanji (in 1981) and The Polar Express (in 1985). Chris Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated both of these books. Later, they were made into popular movies. He was also a Caldecott runner-up in 1980 for his book The Garden of Abdul Gasazi.
In 1986, he was nominated for the International Hans Christian Andersen Award. This is one of the highest honors for people who create children's books around the world. In 2012, the University of Michigan gave him an honorary degree.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Chris Van Allsburg was born on June 18, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His family was of Dutch background. He was the second child of Doris Christianen and Richard Van Allsburg. He has an older sister named Karen.
When Chris was very young, his family lived in an old farmhouse. Later, they moved to a home closer to an elementary school. This made it easy for Chris to walk to class. His family moved again when he was ready for middle school and high school.
Chris Van Allsburg went to the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Michigan. This college also had an art school. He chose to study sculpture. He learned many techniques, like working with bronze, carving wood, and molding resin.
Becoming an Artist and Author
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1972, Chris continued his studies. He went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He earned a master's degree in sculpture in 1975. After finishing school, Van Allsburg opened his own sculpture studio.
At first, his sculpture studio was a bit of a challenge. While at home, Chris started drawing a series of sketches. His wife, Lisa, thought these drawings would be perfect for children's books. She showed his artwork to an editor. This led to his first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, being published in 1979.
As of 2022, Chris Van Allsburg has written or illustrated 21 books. His artwork has also appeared on the covers of some books. For example, he illustrated an edition of C. S. Lewis's famous series The Chronicles of Narnia in 1994. He also illustrated three children's books written by Mark Helprin.
Personal Life
Chris Van Allsburg lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife, Lisa. They have two daughters named Sophia and Anna. When he married Lisa, Chris joined her faith, Judaism.
Works
Picture Books for Children
- The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (1979), a Caldecott runner-up
- Jumanji (1981), a Caldecott Medal winner
- Ben's Dream (1982)
- The Wreck of the Zephyr (1983)
- The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984)
- The Polar Express (1985), a Caldecott Medal 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 Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
- Swan Lake (1989) Illustrated by Van Allsburg, written by Mark Helprin
- A City In Winter (1996) Illustrated by Van Allsburg, written by Mark Helprin
- The Veil of Snows (1997) Illustrated by Van Allsburg, written by Mark Helprin
- The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales (2011) This book features stories by many authors, including Lois Lowry, Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Louis Sachar, Stephen King, Tabitha King, Jon Scieszka, Sherman Alexie, Gregory Maguire, Cory Doctorow, Jules Feiffer, Linda Sue Park and Walter Dean Myers.
Movie Adaptations
Many of Chris Van Allsburg's books have been turned into movies and TV shows.
- Jumanji (1995), a film directed by Joe Johnston, based on the book Jumanji
- Jumanji (1996–1999), an animated TV series, also based on the book Jumanji
- The Polar Express (2004), a film directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on the book The Polar Express
- Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), a film directed by Jon Favreau, based on the book Zathura
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), a film directed by Jake Kasdan, based on the book Jumanji
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), a film directed by Jake Kasdan, also based on the book Jumanji
- The Nutcracker (2024), a ballet production by Grand Rapids Ballet. Chris Van Allsburg helped design the sets for this show.
Films Chris Van Allsburg Worked On
Chris Van Allsburg has also been involved in making movies in other ways.
- The Little Mermaid (1989), he was a visual development artist
- Jumanji (1995), he helped write the screen story
- How to Deal (2003), he was an executive producer
- The Polar Express (2004), he was an executive producer
See also
In Spanish: Chris Van Allsburg para niños
