Photo: Tim Pierce / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on June 18, 1949 in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, Chris Van Allsburg is a novelist, children's writer and screenwriter. Chris Van Allsburg is 77 years old as of 2026. Education on record includes East Grand Rapids High School and University of Michigan. Recorded honors include Caldecott Medal (1986) and Regina Medal (1993). Notable works include Jumanji, The Polar Express and Zathura.
My Take
Chris Van Allsburg interests me because he treats children's picture books as serious, unsettling art rather than decoration. Jumanji and The Polar Express became blockbuster films, but the originals are quieter and stranger, full of that eerie stillness his two Caldecott Medals rightly recognized. Trained at the University of Michigan and raised in East Grand Rapids, he never condescends to young readers; he invites them to the edge of something uncanny and lets them look. I love work that respects a child's appetite for mystery, and his images linger in a way few illustrators manage.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Chris Van Allsburg
- Name (Japanese)
- クリス・ヴァン・オールズバーグ
- Reading
- くりす・ゔぁん・おーるずばーぐ
- Born
- June 18, 1949 (age 77)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Ox
- Origin
- East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
- Occupation
- writer / novelist / children's writer / screenwriter / science fiction writer
2. Background
- High school
- East Grand Rapids High School
- University
- University of Michigan
Awards & achievements
- 1986 Caldecott Medal
- 1993 Regina Medal
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Jumanji | — | |
| Notable work | The Polar Express | — | |
| Notable work | Zathura | — | |
| Notable work | The Garden of Abdul Gasazi | — | |
| Notable work | The Mysteries of Harris Burdick | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris%20Van%20Allsburg
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BB%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BA%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B0
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q704553
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Chris Van Allsburg born?
Born June 18, 1949 (age 77).
Where is Chris Van Allsburg from?
Chris Van Allsburg is from East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.
What does Chris Van Allsburg do?
Chris Van Allsburg works as writer, novelist, children's writer, screenwriter, science fiction writer.
What is Chris Van Allsburg known for?
Notable works include Jumanji, The Polar Express, Zathura.
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