Birthday: "I write for what's left of the eight-year-old still rattling around inside my head."

Self-portrait

Chris van Allsburg (1949-  )

Children’s book author and illustrator

Recipient, The Caldecott Medal, 1981, 1985

Van Allsburg’s world is one where objects have lives of their own, unanticipated consequences arise from the gratification of one’s desires, dreams come alive, and events unfold, uncontrollable. His works include The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (nominated for a Caldecott Medal, 1979); Jumanji (Caldecott winner, 1981); and The Polar Express (Caldecott winner, 1985). His illustrations have enlivened the works of other authors, such as Mark Helprin’s Swan Lake (1989). Van Allsburg’s use of perspective in his drawings is a notable feature: he often portrays events from the height of a child. His published works number two dozen, and three- Jumanji, The Polar Express and Zathura- have been adapted into successful films.