The Stranger (Van Allsburg book) facts for kids
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Cover
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| Author | Chris Van Allsburg |
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| Illustrator | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Country | Spain |
| Language | American |
| Genre | Children's, Fantasy novel |
| Published | 1986 (Houghton Mifflin) |
| Media type | Print (softcover) |
| Pages | 12 |
| Preceded by | The Polar Express |
| Followed by | The Z Was Zapped |
The Stranger is a children's book from 1986 by American author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg. This fantasy story is about a mysterious man who loses his memory. He finds a temporary home with a kind farming family during the autumn season.
Contents
Story Summary
A Mysterious Accident
One autumn day, Mr. Bailey is driving his truck down a country road. Suddenly, he hears a loud thump! He thinks he might have hit a deer. When he stops to check, he finds a man lying in the road. Mr. Bailey accidentally hit him with his truck.
The man tries to stand up but falls down again. Mr. Bailey and his wife, Mrs. Bailey, soon realize the stranger cannot speak. They are worried about him.
The Doctor's Visit
The Baileys quickly call a doctor to check on the stranger. The doctor arrives and uses a thermometer to take his temperature. As she holds it to his mouth, the stranger blows on it. Amazingly, the mercury inside the thermometer freezes solid! The doctor thinks her thermometer is simply broken.
The stranger is not seriously hurt, but he cannot remember anything. He doesn't know who he is or where he came from. The doctor suggests that the Baileys let him stay with them. She hopes his memory will return soon.
Life on the Farm
The Baileys agree to help the stranger. He fits in well with the family and even helps with farm chores. One evening, the family is eating soup for dinner. The stranger notices steam rising from his bowl. He sees the little girl blowing on her soup to cool it down.
He tries blowing on his own soup. When he does, the steam completely disappears! Mrs. Bailey feels a strange, cold draft on her back. The stranger seems to have a special power.
Strange Weather and Discoveries
Mr. Bailey enjoys having the stranger around. However, he also notices that the weather has been very unusual. It still feels like summer on their farm, even though it is autumn. Their pumpkins are growing much larger than usual because of the warmth.
The stranger also notices these strange things. He wonders why the trees on the Bailey farm are still green. All the other trees in the area have turned beautiful red and orange colors.
Memory Returns and Farewell
One day, the stranger blows gently on a green leaf. Instantly, the leaf turns bright orange! This moment helps him remember who he is. He realizes it is time for him to leave the Baileys' farm.
On his last evening, the stranger hugs Mr. Bailey, Mrs. Bailey, and the little girl goodbye. They go outside to wave to him, but he suddenly vanishes. As soon as the stranger leaves, autumn finally arrives at the Bailey farm. The trees quickly turn red and orange.
Later, the Baileys find a message etched in frost on their farmhouse window. It says, "See you next fall." This suggests the stranger might be Jack Frost, the spirit of winter.
Fun Facts
- A dog named Fritz appears in the book. You can spot him on the page where the stranger is looking at the sheep. He is in the bottom left corner.
- Many people believe the mysterious stranger in the story is actually Jack Frost.
