1. Chris Van Allsburg A presentation brought to you by… Micheal Bear Kolbe Blunt Axel El-Farkh Isabell Paul Keonte Pettway Ashilan Smith and Maddy Wyatt.

2. Childhood… Chris Van Allsburg was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 8, 1949 to Doris and Richard Van Allsburg. He lived on an old farmhouse next to a large brick creamery building that was owned by his grandfather. A creamery is a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. When he was 3 years old his family moved to a new house

3. Education… Majored in sculpture at the University of Michigan from 1967-1972 Studied bronze casting, wood carving, resin molding and other techniques. He began graduate school at The Rhode Island School of Design in 1972. He earned his M.F.A. in 1975.

4. Family… He has an older sister named Karen Van Allsburg. Married Lisa Morrison, (a school teacher), whom he met at the University of Michigan years earlier. His wife was the one who encouraged him to illustrate and later write children’s books. Chris and Lisa became parents on 1991 when their daughter Sophia was born. In 1995 their second daughter, Anna was born.

5. Sculptures… First exhibit was in New York City in 1977 at Alan Stone Gallery.

6. Achievements… Earned his MFA degree in 1975 from RISD Caldecott Honor Medal in 1980 for The Garden of Abdul Agassi as well as the Boston Horn Book Award. Two Caldecott Medals for Jumanji and The Polar Express Won The Boston Globe Honor for The Polar Express and the Mysteries of Harris Burdick

7. Achievements… Won the Regina Medal for life time achievement in children’s literature in 1982 Written and illustrated 15 books and illustrated 3 more. Became a father in 1991 Won the National Book Award for Jumanji in 1996

8. Made into Movies… Chris Van Allsburg had three books made into movies. –Jumanji in 1995 –Zathura, 2005 –Polar Express in 2004