Synopses & Reviews
A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . . .and#160;and#160;and#160;Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.and#160;and#160;and#160;For millions of readers worldwide, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved classic. In this 30th anniversary edition, the inimitable artistry of Chris Van Allsburg is revealed in a never-before-seen fashion, with a new jacket design and expanded interior layout. Includes authorandrsquo;s note, downloadable audio read by Liam Neeson, and golden andquot;All Aboardandquot; ornament.and#160;and#160;and#160;
Review
"Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both illustration and storytelling . . . His fable builds to an urgent plea for action as it sends a rousing message of hope."and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Review
"Layered in mystery, this extraordinary book will stun imaginative readers of all ages." School Library Journal, Starred
Review
"Children will be fascinated by the ant-eye view that Van Allsburg provides of common everyday items." Booklist, ALA
Review
"The author-illustrator has woven a thread of fantasy in and around his realistic illustrations to give the reader, once again, a story that stays in the imagination." Horn Book
"The author-illustrator has woven a thread of fantasy in and around his realistic illustrations to give the reader, once again, a story that stays in the imagination." Horn Book Guide
Review
"This is without question one of the best -- and most original -- picture books in years." The New York Times
Review
"The story idea, so economically carried out in the text, is illustrated in the artist's meticulous drawings, marvels of symbolism, reality, imagination, and perspective." Publishers Weekly
Review
"The most succinctly nutty alphabet book in the history of mankind." The New York Times
"Whimsical, sophisticated, this should appeal to a wide audience, from those amused by mayhem in an unusual context to the many fans of this uniquely creative artist." Kirkus Reviews with Pointers
Review
On the twentieth anniversary of Jumanji, Van Allsburg picks up right where his Caldecott Medal book left off, with similarly terrifying adventure set this time in outer space.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"Van Allsburg illustrates the surreal events in a grainy charcoal-black that seems to shimmer on a rough, cream-colored ground...Zathura, like Jumanji, is a satisfying enigma." Publishers Weekly
and#8220;Van Allsburg is a terrific illustrator, and his images here, including one where the boys open their front door and are greeted with a breathtaking views of the cosmos, are memorable.and#8221; The New York Times Book Review
and#8220;The angles of view, are, as always, wonderfully dramaticand#8230;and#8221; Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;The shadowy black-and-white tones of Van Allsburgand#8217;s illustration recall 1950and#8217;s science-fiction filmsand#8230;and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
and#8220;One canand#8217;t help but anticipating the encore.and#8221; School Library Journal
Review
"It's a book that starts with one point of view and steps into another. The average bildungsroman acoomplishes this kind of transition in several hundred pages: Van Allsburg does it in thirty-two." Kirkus Reviews with Pointers
Review
"Van Allsburg explores the nature of good and evil in this unearthly tale of a witch's broom that has fallen from the sky with its witch still on it . . . Enchanting." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"...you won't be able to put this broom away any more than Minna Shaw could. It will sweep the boards twelve months of the year." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"...will evoke pleasurable shudders..." Publishers Weekly
"...Althought not strictly for Halloween, may turn out to be as much a part of that holiday as Polar Express is of Christmas." School Library Journal
Review
"As always, Van Allsburg's paintings are magnificent. Cool, clear colors, boldly executed, and unusual perspective accentuate the story's mystery." Booklist, ALA
Review
Masterful compositions display the depth, varied viewpoints, and marvelous mixture of patterns and surfaces that readers have come to expect.
School Library Journal, Starred
Classic Van Allsburg air, like something out of a dream...hinting at mysteries lurking behind the here and now.
The Washington Post
Magnificent sepia-toned art...works magic with people, place and predicament. A delicious tale about just desserts.
The San Francisco Chronicle
A Van Allsburg book is always worth waiting for.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Imagine how tempting it might be to be able to hypnotize your little sister.
The Chicago Tribune
A rare outing from Van Allsburg, featuring as smooth a case of payback as ever was.
Kirkus Reviews
The nostalgic...sepia-tone artwork is eye-catching...it will draw kids into the story with angled, theatrical images.
Booklist, ALA
Enough of a spooky edge to the hypnotic proceedings to make the plot...intriguing even before the final twist.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The story of Probuditi!...[is] about the lure of magic.
Publishers Weekly
Van Allsburg works his magic.
Kansas City Star
Chris Van Allsburg, a master of surprise endings, wraps a captivating story in lush, warm full-page illustrations in pencil over pastels in burnt sienna that ooze the heat of a summer day in the early 1940s.
The Chicago Sun-Times
This story of magic and gullibility will keep readers guessing until the very end...sepia-tone drawings match the mid-20th century setting.
Library Media Connection
Synopsis
This 25th anniversary edition celebrates two-time Caldecott-winning Chris Van Allsburg's eco-friendly, timeless picture bookand#160;Justand#160;aand#160;Dream: a fantastic journey to the futureand#160;that teaches one boy the importance of being good to his planet in the present. Thisand#160;timely environmentaland#160;storyand#160;includes a bonus digital audio file to download, read by theand#160;author himself.
Synopsis
In this 25th anniversary edition of Just a Dream, travel with young Walter on a fantastical adventure as he travels--by way of his bed--into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to a more eco-friendly way to live. Chris Van Allsburg's pitch-perfect narrative, paired with his full-color pastel illustrations, renders this picture book a story that has stood the test of time. This anniversary edition includes bonus downloadable audio, read by Chris Van Allsburg and a stunning new jacket
Synopsis
In this picture book classic, travel with young Walter on a fantastical adventure as he journeys--by way of his bed--into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to our collective and individual environmental responsibility.
Walter does not appreciate the beauty of nature, or understand his role in keeping the planet healthy . . . until a fantastic journey shows him the tragic fate that could befall Earth if humans like him are not more careful.
Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express) pairs pitch-perfect narrative with his full-color pastel illustrations, rendering this picture book a story that has stood the test of time.
Two-time Caldecott Medalist Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both illustration and storytelling in his latest work. (Publishers Weekly)
This anniversary edition includes bonus downloadable audio, read by Chris Van Allsburg and a stunning new jacket
Synopsis
In this 25th anniversary edition of Just a Dream, travel with youngand#160;Walter on a fantastical adventure as he travelsandmdash;by way of hisand#160;bedandmdash;into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to a more eco-friendly way to live. Chris Van Allsburgand#39;sand#160;pitch-perfect narrative, paired with his full-color pasteland#160;illustrations, renders this picture book a story that has stood the test of time.and#160;This anniversary edition includes bonus downloadable audio, read by Chris Van Allsburg and a stunning new jacket!
Synopsis
Young Walter litters and refuses to sort trash for recycling, until he dreams of an overcrowded and polluted future which terrifies him into taking care of the earth.
Synopsis
Walter is a litterbug who does not appreciate the beauty of nature, or understand his role in keeping the planet healthy . . . until a fantastic journey shows him the tragic fate that could befall Earth if humans like him are not more careful. Are Walterand#8217;s actions really helping his planet along the road to destruction, or is it all just a dream? Chris Van Allsburgand#8217;s classic story of environmental responsibility is now available in this special paperback edition with french flaps.
Synopsis
Fourteen black-and-white drawings, each accompanied by a title and a caption, entice readers to make up his or her own story.
Synopsis
The three-time Caldecott medalist tells the tale of two ants who decide to leave the safety of the others to venture into a danger-laden kitchen.
Synopsis
A beautiful edition, including downloadable audio read by Liam Neeson, to celebrate 30 years of the magical, timeless story about a little boyand#39;s train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Synopsis
The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost?
Synopsis
Sometimes that very thin line between illusion and reality is not as clearly defined as we would like it to be. It certainly wasn't the day that Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. For in this bizarre and eerie place -- where strange topiary trees loomed -- the evil visage of Gasazi casts its shadow. And even after Alan escaped, the spell of Gasazi still seemed to penetrate into his everyday world. In this extraordinary, unusual, and unique picture book, Chris Van Allsburg explores both the real and surreal worlds with incredible deftness. In doing so, he has created exquisite and beautiful images that will continue to haunt readers long after they have left the enchanted garden of Abdul Gasazi.
Synopsis
On a terrifically rainy day, Ben has a dream in which he and his house float by the monuments of the world, half submerged in flood-water.
Synopsis
A dramatic black- and- white presentation of the alphabet in which the three-time Caldecott medalist depicts a mysterious transformation of each letter.
Synopsis
On the last page of the Caldecott-winning book Jumanji, young Danny Budwing is seen running after his brother, Walter, with a game tucked under his arm. Now after twenty years, Chris Van Allsburg is ready to reveal what happens when Danny and Walter roll the dice. This time the name of the game is Zathura and the battling Budwing boys are in for the ride of their lives.
Zathura unleashes intergalactic challenges that require even the quarreling Budwing brothers to work as a team.
Zathura hit bestseller lists when it was first published in 2002 and it's sure to visit them again this fall, along with an exciting selection of six movie tie-in editions when Zathura blasts into movie theatres nationwide!
Synopsis
Riverbend was a quiet little town, the kind of place where one day was just like all the rest and nothing ever happened. Occasionally the stagecoach rolled through, but it never stopped, because no one ever came to Riverbend and no one ever left. The day the stagecoach stood motionless in the center of town, Sheriff Ned Hardy knew something was terribly wrong. What was the mysterious substance on both coach and horses? It would not come off. Soon it was everywhere in the tidy little village. Something had to be done, and Sheriff Hardy aimed to do it.
Synopsis
A widow finds herself in possession of an extraordinary broom left by a witch who fell into the widow's garden.
Synopsis
In a story recounted through the daily log of Captain Allan Hope, the sailors aboard the Rita Anne become mesmerized and transformed by a mysterious glowing rock, and only music and books can restore them to normal.
Synopsis
For his birthday, Calvinand#8217;s mother gives him two tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent (magician and hypnotist extraordinaire!). Even though Mama hints that his little sister, Trudy, would love to go, Calvin doesnand#8217;t hesitate to invite his friend Rodney instead.
The boys return home greatly impressed by the magicianand#8217;s performance. When Calvinand#8217;s mother goes out, she leaves him in charge of Trudy. Itand#8217;s a job Calvin dislikes because his sister does not want to be left out of anything. So Calvin and Rodney include herand#151;by making her the first subject for their own hypnotizing machine.
Much to the boysand#8217; surprise, the machine works. But unfortunately they cannot undo what they have done. Trudy is stuck in her trance, convinced she is a dogand#151;panting, drooling, and barking at squirrels. The only problem is, Calvin canand#8217;t remember Lomaxand#8217;s magic wordand#151;Probuditi!and#151;so Trudy wonand#8217;t snap out of it!
The boys are worried and decide to take Trudy to the one man they know can solve their problemand#151;but will Lomax help them? Mama is on her way home . . . Who will have the last laugh?
About the Author
Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in childrenand#8217;s literature. In 1982, Jumanji was nominated for a National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg was formerly an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children.