New Releases by Chris Van Allsburg

A surrealistic journey into the wild west--and readers'' imaginations--from two-time Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express. Now available in a special paperback edition. 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 shiny, greasy slime appeared, making marks of many colors throughout the town, Sheriff Ned Hardy knew something was terribly wrong. Something had to be done, and Sheriff Hardy aimed to do it. This suspenseful story full of mystery, wonder, and bravery encourages readers to ask questions and ponder the realities of the world within books--and the world at their fingertips.

Who is Harris Burdick? For more than twenty-five years, readers have been puzzling over the illustrations by this enigmatic artist. Thousands of children have been inspired to weave their own stories to go with his intriguingly titled pictures. And now, some of our most imaginative storytellers attempt to solve the perplexing mysteries of Harris Burdick. Enter The Chronicles of Harris Burdick to read this incredible compendium of stories: magical, funny, creepy, poignant, inscrutable, these are tales you won't soon forget.

Left on their own for an afternoon, two bored and restless children find more excitement than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical jungle adventure board game.

GR 3-5. Be transported back to 1901 and meet Annie Edson Taylor. When her charm school closes Annie needs to find a way to earn money. She has a great idea after reading a newspaper article about the throngs that go to Niagara Falls each summer. With determination of steel, this 62-year old lady sets out to design and build a barrel, in which she’ll plunge over Niagara Falls, thus realizing her dream of becoming rich and famous. Queen of the Falls is based on true events. Annie Edson Taylor was the first person to ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel, and the only woman to take on this task solo. The reader is caught up in the drama, just like those crowds of bygone years, wondering, “Is Annie is going to survive the fall?” She does survive, but her naiveté cost her part of her dream. In true Van Allsburg style, the sepia-style illustrations enable the reader to visually be carried back to the early 1900’s. The emotion of this historic event is captured not only verbally, but also in the facial expressions rendered by Van Allsburg. This author/illustrator’s former works are fantastical and surreal in nature, yet this book attests to his talent in other genres as well. From this book, students can take away the lesson that everyone has dreams, ambitions and goals…even little old ladies.

On his birthday, Calvin and his friend Rodney see a magician perform, then copy him by hypnotizing Calvin''s little sister, but the joke isn''t so funny when they are unable to snap her out of it.

The Polar Express train visits the North Pole and passengers find out what the first gift of the season is going to be from Santa Claus.

Relates the excitement of Christmas time along with the anticipation for what Santa may bring.

The award-winning author of Jumanji and The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg, challenges young readers to use their creativity and imagination in this one-of-a-kind book that asks readers to finish the story. When author-illustrator extraordinaire Harris Burdick goes missing, all he's left behind are a series of images with accompanying captions, ideas for separate picture books. But what can a picture of a nun quietly sitting in a chair floating in a cathedral have to do with a caption that says, "THE SEVEN CHAIRS: The fifth one ended up in France?" Enticed to come up with their own endings, readers will marvel at the mystery behind these lasting drawings and the charm of an everchanging narrative. Caldecott medal winner Chris Van Allsburg's call for readers to write their own stories will enthrall young minds again and again.

One magical Christmas eve, a young boy boards the Polar Express and finds himself in North Pole City. He meets Santa, receives the first gift of the season, a silver bell. Next morning the boy and his sister marvel at its beautiful ring, but his parents think it''s broken for only believers can hear the sound. Activities in this Literature Unit delve deeper into the themes and characterizations found in The Polar Express.

After being given two magical figs that make his dreams come true, Monsieur Bibot sees his plans for future wealth upset by his long-suffering dog.

A witch's worn-out broom serves a widow well, until her neighbors decide the thing is wicked and dangerous.

When he has a dream about a future Earth devastated by pollution, Walter begins to understand the importance of taking care of the environment.

When two bad ants desert from their colony, they experience a dangerous adventure that convinces them to return to their former safety.

Depicts how A was in an avalanche, B was badly bitten, C was cut to ribbons, and the other letters of the alphabet suffered similar mishaps.

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world. Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life. Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne's deception, and realizes that if he doesn't make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he's stumbled into will not only ruin lives -- it will end them.

A magical train ride on nochebuena (Christmas Eve) takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from San Nicolás.

A little boy chases the dog he's tending into a mysterious garden. Eventually he comes to the mansion of the owner of the garden who is a magician. He says the dog has been turned into a duck and there's no telling when the spell will wear off. The duck takes his hat and flies away. When he gets home the dog greets him. Then the dog brings him his hat. The reader is left to wonder whether it all really happened or not.

Left on their own for an evening, two boisterous brothers find more excitement than they bargained for in a mysterious and mystical space adventure board game.

In 1983, beloved Caldecott-winning illustrator, Chris Van Allsburg, first invited readers to peer over the edge of a cliff to consider the wreck of a small sailboat. Had a churning sea carried the Zephyr up in a storm? Could waves ever have been so impossibly high? And what of the boy who had believed—dared to chase the wind—no matter where it lead? The winds have shifted once again and you’re invited back to the wreck of the Zephyr, to hear the story of the boy and his obsession to become the world’s greatest sailor, and a storm that carried them to a place where boats sail on the wind, instead of on the water. Told in spare text and haunting, full-color pastels, Chris Van Allsburg’s spectral sailboats once again take impossbile flight. In illustrations so vivid one can feel the whisper of wind and hear the flutter of canvas, depart this world for another to entertain the marvelous possibility of dreams. This 30th anniversary edition includes read-along audio of the book, read by Chris Van Allsburg.

A boy thinks he is the best boat driver.But one stormy day he goes off sailing and crashes.When he wakes up he finds himself on an island.While he is there he learnes how to fly a boat.So the next morning he flies his boat back to where he came from.But he crashes.No one believed he flew the boat but one kid.

A strange glowing stone picked up on a sea voyage captivates a ship's crew and has a terrible transforming effect on them.

From two-time Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, comes a poignant story of one hamster's struggle with destiny. Being a pet store hamster isn't much fun for Sweetie Pie, but life in human homes proves downright perilous. As Sweetie Pie longingly gazes out of his cage at the squirrels frolicking in the trees, he wonders if he'll ever have the chance to feel the wind in his fur. Allsburg's expressive, soft-hued illustrations artfully capture a hamster's-eye view of the wide and wonderful world where maybe, just maybe, Sweetie Pie could someday run free.

A magical train ride on nochebuena (Christmas Eve) takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from San Nicolás.