Chris Van Allsburg has been one of my favorite authors since I was young. He has captivated audiences of all ages and will forever be an essential in the genre of Children’s Literature.

Van Allsburg has won two Caldecott Medals for his famous picture books, The Polar Express in 1986 and book turned movie Jumanji in 1982. This of course runs tops to his Caldecott Honor in 1979 for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi.  He has written over a dozen books and most recently created the amazing Zathura, which is a sequel of some sorts to Jumanji. Only this time the characters travel beyond the realms of earth and into outer space.

Van Allsburg’s imagination has no limits and personifies every child’s dream and thoughts. Van Allsburg has captured the great emotions of Christmas time in The Polar Express, while going into the insect world of a day in the life of Two Bad Ants. Chris Van Allsburg is beyond words and beyond any form of recognition.