Chris Van Allsburg
Children's Author
Biography
Since then, Chris has written and illustrated 19 books and has illustrated three others that were written by Mark Helprin. In 1980, he was awarded the Caldecott Honor Medal for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Chris is also the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, and was the recipient of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Additionally, he received the Boston Globe Honor for The Polar Express as well as The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.
Chris has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 1982, Jumanji won the National Book Award for Book Illustration and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film.
Chris had two of his stories turned into major film movies, Jumanji and the Polar Express!