2. http://www. houghtonmifflinbooks

3. Introduction
I first saw the drawings in this book a year ago, in the home of a man named Peter Wenders.
Though Mr. Wenders is retired now, he once worked for a children’s book publisher, choosing the stories and pictures that would be turned into books.
Thirty years ago a man called at Peter Wenders’s office, introducing himself as Harris Burdick.
Mr. Burdick explained that he had written fourteen stories and had drawn many pictures for each one.
He’d brought with him just one drawing from each story, to see if Mr. Wenders liked his work.
Peter Wenders was fascinated by the drawings.

4. He told Burdick he would like to read the stories that went with them as soon as possible.
The artist agreed to bring the stories the next morning. He left the fourteen drawings with Wenders.
But he did not return the next day.
Or the day after that.
Harris Burdick was never heard from again. Over the years, Wenders tried to find out who Burdick was and what had happened to him, but he discovered nothing.
To this day Harris Burdick remains a complete mystery.

5. His disappearance is not the only mystery left behind
His disappearance is not the only mystery left behind. What were the stories that went with these drawings?
There are some clues. Burdick had written a title and caption for each picture.
When I told Peter Wenders how difficult it was to look at the drawings and their captions without imagining a story, he smiled and left the room.
He returned with a dust-covered cardboard box. Inside were dozens of stories, all inspired by the Burdick drawings.
They’d been written years ago by Wenders’s children and their friends.
I spent the rest of my visit reading these stories. They were remarkable, some bizarre, some funny, some downright scary.
In the hope that other children will be inspired by them, the Burdick drawings are reproduced here for the first time.
Chris Van Allsburg
Providence, Rhode Island

6. YOUR TASK:
You just read the introduction and learned about the mysterious story of Harris Burdick.
Doesn't this story make you wonder?
That's what Chris Van Allsburg does to make his wonderful stories.
He first comes up with a picture and then he writes his story from the picture.
His pictures do make you wonder - what happens next?
That’s where YOU come in…

7. ARCHIE SMITH,
BOY WONDER
”A tiny voice asked,
"Is he the one?"

8. What are the lights?
Where do the lights
come from?
Who has the tiny voice?
What does the voice
mean by "the one"?
Is Archie asleep?
Why is Archie a wonder?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of
the story?

9. A
STRANGE
DAY
IN JULY
”He threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back. “

10. Who are the kids?
What happened to the
first two stones?
What did the boy do
next?
What did the boy and
girl say to each other?
Why is it July?
Is this the beginning,
the middle, or the end
of the story?

11. UNDER
THE RUG
”Two weeks
passed and
it happened
again. “

12. What happened the first
time, before it happened
again?”
Why did two weeks pass?
Who is the man?
Where does the man
live?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story
What is under the rug?

13. in reverse, the ocean liner was pulled further
MISSING
IN VENICE
”Even with her mighty engines
in reverse, the ocean liner was pulled further
and further
into the canal.“

14. Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
What is pulling the ship
into the canal?
Why is this happening in
Venice?
Who or what is missing
in Venice?
What happens next?

15. ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER
TIME
”If there was
an answer,
he'd find it
here. “

16. Who are the four people
in the picture?
Which one is the he who
will find it?
What is he looking for?
How did they get in the
sailing railroad cart?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
What is the place you
can see in the distance?

17. THE HARP
”So
it's true
he thought,
it's really
true. “

18. Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
Who is the boy in the
picture and where did he
come from?
Where is the boy now?
What is really true?
What is special about the
harp?
What is the ring or water
beside the harp?

19. was pounding. He was sure
UNINVITED GUESTS
”His heart
was pounding. He was sure
he had seen
the doorknob
turn.“

20. Who is he?
Did he see the doorknob
turn?
Why is the door so small?
How does he feel being
in the cellar?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
Who is turning the door-
knob?
How did the door get
there?

21. ”He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late.”
MR. LINDEN'S LIBRARY
”He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late.”

22. Who is Mr. Linden?
Who is the girl?
What is the book?
What was the warning?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
Why is it too late?

23. ”The fifth one ended up in France.
THE SEVEN CHAIRS
”The fifth one ended up in France.

24. Is the story about all the
chairs or just this one?
What is special about the
chairs?
Are all the chairs the
same?
Why is the fifth one in
France?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
What do they people in
the story say?
What happened next?

25. JUST DESSERT
”She lowered
the knife
and it grew
even brighter.“

26. Where is the dessert?
What is the girl trying to do?
Who is she and how did she get there?
What is "it" and why is "it" glowing?
What happened just before this?
Is this the beginning, the middle, or the end of the story?

27. ”It all began when someone left the window open. “
THIRD-FLOOR BEDROOM
”It all began when someone left the window open. “

28. Whose house is this?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of
the story?
What "all began when
someone left the
window open?
Who left the window
open?
Was the window left
open on purpose or by
accident?
What happens next?

29. his lantern three times the schooner appeared.“
CAPTAIN
TORY
”He swung
his lantern three times
and slowly
the schooner appeared.“

30. Who is Captain Tory?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of
the story?
Where did the schooner
come from?
Who is the boy?
How does he feel?
What happens next?

31. it was time to send them back.
OSCAR AND ALPHONSE
”She knew
it was time to send them back.
The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out ‘goodbye.’"

32. Is this the beginning, the
middle or the end of the
story?
Where are the
caterpillars going?
Where did they come
from?
How do the caterpillars
spell?
Who is the girl?
How did the girl get to
know the caterpillars?

33. THE
TEACHER’S
PET
”This time
she’d gone
too far.”

34. Is this the beginning, the
middle or the end of the
story?
Who is the “she” that
went to far?
What did “she” do?
What will be the consequences?
Who belongs to the hand?
Is the hand taking, or
giving?

35. THE
HOUSE ON MAPLE STREET
”It was
a perfect
lift-off.”

36. In what year does this
happen?
Is this the beginning, the
middle, or the end of the
story?
Who is in the story?
Where are they in the
picture?
Where is the house
going?
How is the house
powered?