Chris Van Allsburg Books

When I bought this book I thought how great it would be to write a story to go with each picture. Obviously, I'm not the only one to have this idea, as the other reviews here show. And Steven King has written a great story based on the "House on Maple Street" picture. A great book that has inspired, I hope, many future writers.

Lets get a couple of things straight: First, Chris Van Allsberg is a genius; second, Mr Van Allsberg does not write "children's books." I will not elaborate on the first point. You need only to open any two of his books to know that it's true. The first book will blow you away; the second book will persuade you that the first was not a fluke. But as for my second point....

"The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" is proof in point. I LOVE this book. The mysterious, creepy, vaguely sinister pictures; the dangling captions; the POSSIBLITIES opened on every page. It's wonderful! But I've never met a child who, of her or his own volition, could/would spend more than five minutes with it. Oh, I know, my experience runs counter to that of many of my fellow reviewers, but it's true. I guess my wife and I were just blessed with second rate kids who had third rate friends. But that doesn't mean that I don't ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND this book. I DO! But the heck with the kids! Buy it for yourself!

As an English teacher, I have been amazed by the creative writing The Mysteries of Harris Burdick has inspired. I use the book in conjunction with vocabulary units, having students create short stories (that include the vocabulary words we are studying) based off of the pictures, line and title Van Allsburg provides on each page. The intriguing beginnings he has created lend themselves to a plethora of plots; I've never read two stories that are similar though I've used the book for years now.

I highly recommend this book as a way to encourage any aspiring writers, as well as those who struggle with writing. Even reluctant writers seem to enjoy the challenge of creating a story worthy of such a beautiful illustration. Students are often amazed and pleased with what they can create with a little help from this wonderful book!

I bought this title thinking it was the book form, but I found that the portfolio pages could be framed and hung-up so that the pictures could be constantly in sight, that way you can build your story subconsciously over time.
The pictures are wonderful; the use of grayscale makes it easy to see whatever color you want. The title of the book tells what type of pictures are inside, all are mysterious,
This title is great to get your kids into story writing or just writing period. They can learn to proofread and practice their spelling and grammar. This would be a good resource for homeschoolers as well as school teachers.

I'm a student teacher, and i'm really excited about using this book in the future with children that I will teach.

The illustrations are really thought provoking and gorgeous.

The illustrations are large and clear and are presented nicely in the packaging.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody that teaches or to any parents. :)

A widow obtains an old witch's broom it still has some magic in it. The neighbors are not very accommodating but the Widow is crafty. My 8 year old son really enjoyed this book. It would also be good for Halloween reading. It is recommended for ages 5-7 years.

I am 7 years old and my mom and I read this together.
This is a story about a broom that still has magic left in it. My favorite part of the story is how the lady tricks the neighbor into thinking that the broom they killed was a ghost!

I teach second grade and my class just loved this book. Chris Van Allsburg is one of our favorite authors but this is one of his best!!

I am 23 and plan to teach at the secondary level, but when we read this book in one of my education classes I knew I had to share it. I bought it, went to a first grade classroom and they were hooked. Many wanted to hear it again, others wanted to get a copy for themselves, still others just wanted to look at the magnificent pictures again. It is a fabulous book and a wonderful story!

I did indeed love this one. The art work, per usual, for this author, was absolutely perfect. It is the type of work that can appeal to children as well as adults (I'm well into my sixties, and I enjoyed it...of course I have a lot of little boy in me still). As to the narrative, I did feel this was one of the author's better works. Allsburg is certainly a teller of good stories. I have observed this work being read to the children at our local library and it is one of their favorites. Again, the art work is almost magical, quite detailed and rather amazing to view. Recommend this one highly.

Imagine being in a great storm on a ship with your crewmates being apes. This is what ends up happening to a captain in The Wretched Stone, written by Chris Van Allsburg. The story starts out with a smart crew that is on a boat and who are setting sail. When the crew hits land, they find a mystical stone. While watching the stone, the crew is fasinated with the stone a little too much. After watching the stone for some time, the crew turns into apes, and not at the oppertune time, because a storm is headed their way, forcing the smart captain into a tough situation.

This is a very good fiction bood, especially with Chris Ban Allsbrug's excellent descriptions which almost match the pictures in the story. This is also a very imaginative book, especailly considering that it is a kid's book, which is always imaginative. I also thought this was just a good book. Of all of the Allsburg books I've read, this is the best. So, all imagitive kids should read this terrific book, written by Chris Van Allsburg.

Have you heard about the book The Wretched Stone? The author, Chris Van Allsburg, made a beautiful book. This book I will never forget. I am glad I read this book. I hope you will enjoy this book like I did.

I thought that the colors were pale in the pictures. But, the theme is good. The theme is to not watch too much TV. The art work is like real people. I can tell that the author's words are very stiff. The story takes place mostly at sea in the boat.

In The Wretched Stone it said, "Some play musical instruments and there are a few good strong storytellers among them." Also, a good quote they said is, "I am playing the violin and reading to the crew." I like the ending a lot. Also it is very funny that the crew turns into monkeys. The author's style is to make the kids see it in there minds.

The crew and the captain are going through bad times. These entire things have a solution. The captain is the person who solves them. I enjoyed this book.

I feel that the book is meant for higher grade levels. Mostly for forth and fifth graders. The pictures are not cartoons, they are real people. This book is very extraordinary. This book is a 4 star book. I hope this book review will make you read it too.

Even my eight-year-old grandchild got the message of this wonderful allegory. The Wretched Stone is an important story with a message-- a great reminder lesson for children and adults alike, about the dangers of watching too much television. It's so easy to slide into the passive oblivion in front of the tube. We need to tear ourselves and our children away from the "glowing orb."
The sailors on the ship became captive to a glowing stone that said nothing. Anything like that around your house?

This is one of my favorite Chris Van Allsburg books. Chris Van Allsburg, author to gems like The Polar Express, The Stranger, Just a Dream, and The Wreck of the Zephyr, tells another captivating story with a message. This one serves as a great reminder and launching point for discussion, for children and adults alike, about the dangers of too much television.

It's estimated that the average child watches about 4 hours of TV per day. That calculates out to 28 hours per week or 120 hours per month. Imagine what any one of us could accomplish in that amount of time! The sad truth is that for so many of us parents, the TV becomes a cheap and easy babysitter for our kids.

The Wretched Stone is a great story with wonderful illustrations and a very important message.

I love Chris Van Allsburg books, I want to own all of them! this book was especially good to teach my student how to infer, they had fun collecting the clues the authro gives and then inferring what the wretched stone was. It was a good reading lesson, they loved it and I do too.

I first read this book when it was newly acquired by our local public library. I was all of 11 then, and while I'd read a fair amount of books (I was a precocious child), this one stood out. I never forgot it. Ten years later, I wanted my own copy. I had to search high and low for it, finding it only through special order (and it took WEEKS to get).

At the age of 21, I was just as affected. This book transcends the original story of Swan Lake, grabs you by the throat and insinuates itself into your soul. I'm not kidding, either. Helprin tells the truth about humans and love in profoundly simple, poetic language. I'm not even sure it should be called a child's book.

I don't know what else to say. Read it. Make them publish more of these books.

These were the images. The ability to heighten your senses. To smell the sunshine on the grass. To be alive in the breezes. Awaken to love and loyalty. Heart stopping and heart wrenching. A tale for all ages.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I have read it several times over and the story never grows old. It holds me captivated to the very last page through every reading. (I also cry every single time.) If you are the kind of person who loves the story of Romeo and Juliet I garentee that this book is for you.

I still remember the first time I read Swan Lake; I was in tears. I was not sad, exactly, but deeply moved. This book is timeless, and the prose is beautifully balanced. The story itself is strong and very well-written, with some very neat characters. This book could be read to slightly older children, and there are clear-cut 'villains' and 'heroes', but the heroes are human, they can fall and make mistakes, and this story is not for those who love unambiguous happy endings. Helprin is too aware of the world for that. I would also not recommend it for people who greatly dislike reading fantasy. It has a vague feel of a fairy tale, though it is too real and vivid for that. The pictures, by Chris Van Allsburg (known for The Polar Express), are extremely beautiful and fit the writing style. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the other two in this series, A Veil of Snows and A City in Winter. Swan Lake can stand alone, but the other two complement it very well. I don't even know how many times I have read these books, but I found them rewarding every time.

Swan Lake is a beautiful book. The story of the old man, the little girl, the true prince and the beautiful Odette is told with simple elegance through the eyes of the wise old grandfather. I read this book out loud with my friend, and we could have stayed up all night, caught up in the beautiful, heartbreaking tale of love and life and learning. We laughed and cried, and sat stiff with suspense. We were filled by turns with sorrow and joy, despair and hope and sometimes a mixture of them all. Everyone should read Swan Lake, for this book is truly a treasure, a gem that will shine brightly for years to come.

Allburg is the best picture book writer out there. He gets a idea like a child would, such as how the cowboys in a picture book feel, and isn't afraid to go full speed ahead and explore it.

There's always layers to his works. An asset for all parents of young children.

It is a day like anyother in riverbend, where nothing ever happens, occasionally a stage coach will pass through, but wont stop, thats because no one ever comes or goes from the town, simply because theres nothing to be done or seen there. One day the Sheriff walks out into the road looks around, seeing everything normal, he looks down the road and then sees a bright light... and then it goes out. he wanders back into the station to ponder what the light could have been, a stage coach rides into town, with a horrible goo all over it, after several more discoveries of the "slime" the sheriff forms a posse to go after whatever or whoever is doing this destruction. Only for the reader to discover, riverbend.is.a.coloring.book.

I loved this book. this was by far my favorite chris van alsburg book ever, because its got the most irony of all of his books and is so well put together. he has such a great style with his writing and illustrations. I particualariy liked the part where they show the kids hand coloring in the sheriff. All young readers will enjoy this book, and older readers might just get a kick out of it too. enjoy.

A teacher I was working in the classroom with read this book to her 4th grade class. I was hooked! I read this book to children from the 1st grade to the 5th. I cannot read this book out loud without laughing! This is a wonderful book, I love it! Van Allsburg is now one of my favorite authors.

Like all Chris van Allsburg's books, "Bad Day at Riverbend" shows an astonishing blend of imagination and talent. The good folks of the tiny western town called Riverbend start to realize that there are all sorts of strange things happening--and no one can explain them. People are afraid. People are uneasy. People turn to the town's sherriff for help.

Adults will tune in right away to what's going on, but what fun to see understanding dawn on a child's face when they realize where the light and color are coming from--it's positively magical to watch.

Van Allsburg employs his usual stellar artistic talent in an unusual way here, and the end result is captivating. There is a sense of unease here, a discomfiting sense of mystery that pervades all Van Allsburg's work, and it works wonderfully well here to heighten the sense of suspense. Much to be admired!

I have loved this wonderful book since it came out. This is a grownup's book masquerading as a kiddie book. The children I know have not liked the book, but the adults howl over it. It's one of those books children don't really get because it subtly makes fun of kids...but that is what the fun is all about.

One past reviewer said this was not Chris Van Allsburg's typical illustration. There IS no typical Van Allsburg illustration. All of his books are totally unique. You will not find a copycat book in his whole award winning collection.

The whole point of this delightful books is that it mirrors a child's coloring book. The opening pages are uncolored and shows the typical western town with the peaceful citizens living their quiet daily lives with the usual sheriff in attendance to round up the bad guys. Suddenly a horse and rider pull into town. Hanging from the horse are greasy colored strips hanging from him. The rider was in the same terrible condition. He looked awful. The rider tells the sheriff that he was riding along minding his own business, when suddenly there came a sudden bright light and then he was attacked. The sheriff knows he must act at once to save the town from this terrible unknown threat. I won't tell you the ending.

If you are reading this book in a bookstore, be prepared for people to stare as you double over with tears streaming down your face.

I gave this book 5 stars because it was a good book. The book is about a magic train that travels to the North Pole. The train took little boys and girls to the North Pole. When the children arrive at the North Pole, they learn that one of them will receive the first gift of Christmas.
This was a fun book for me, I really enjoyed the train because they had good treats. I also like the pictures of the train.
Westly
7
1st grade
Germany

I gave this book 5 stars because it was a good book. The book is about a magic train that travels to the North Pole. The train took little boys and girls to the North Pole. When the children arrive at the North Pole, they learn that one of them will receive the first gift of Christmas.
This was a fun book for me, I really enjoyed the train because they had good treats. I also like the pictures of the train.
Westly
7
1st grade
Germany

What this book speaks to me about is the magic of Christmas, not the commmercialism, something I try hard to capture each year amid the avalanche of enticements to buy and consume. I grew up not believing in the Santa that just brings presents but in the magic and spirit of giving and receiving and the joy and wonder of the season and by reading and sharing this book with my family each Christmas, I hope to capture some of that magic and wonder, for each of us to hold in amongst the chaos that surrounds us at this time of year.

I am a huge fan of books and loved this as a child, so I got it for my 17-month-old daughter to share with her the joys in this masterpiece. I have yet to see the movie, but the captivating story and artwork makes the book well worth it. You will teasure it for years to come!!!

Chris Van Allsburg's picture book THE POLAR EXPRESS is a Christmas classic anyone can enjoy. Both illustrations and text are wonderful and the book hits just the right magical mysterious notes with none of the creepiness the Tom Hanks movie can claim. And the ending is pitch perfect in capturing the spirit of Santa Claus and Christmas.

Beautiful book, all in Spanish, just like I wanted. Great story and in great shape.

It made me feel tingly inside. Do you believe in Santa? It's a great book for all ages. After reading it to my daughter at bedtime, I had to read it again to my husband. We both really enjoyed the story as well as the beautiful illustrations (which, by the way, won an award). It is a truly a book which should be read every Christmas Eve.

This book is great to read to your kids. The illustrations are beautiful. The story is full of Christmas magic. Your kids will love it!

This is a wonderful book to teach children that they should treat others as they want to be treated.

En casa de mi amiga Cala fue la primera vez que leí ýLa Escoba de la Viudaý de Chris Van Allsburg, fué el diseño del libro lo que primero me llamó la atención, empecé a leerlo y a ver detalladamente las ilustraciones que son verdaderamente fantásticas; deleitando mis pupilas continué con la lectura, es definitivamente un libro de fantasía para niños y grandes que siguen siendo niños. ¡Estupenda la idea del libro! Y siendo la lectura tan sencilla, que sentí como me transformaba en una niña de 8 años... ¡Fué una experiencia mágica! En unas vacaciones por la ciudad de México, encontré el libro en una pequeña librería y no perdí la oportunidad de obsequiarlo. Este libro es uno de mis favoritos y no me canso de recomendarlo a quien tenga niños y de leerlo cada vez que se presenta una oportunidad.

The first time that I read ýThe Widowýs Broomý by Chris Van Allsburg was at my friend Calaýs house. The design of the book first caught my eye, I began to read it and in detail saw that the illustrations are truly fantastic; delighting my eyes, I continued to read, and fantastically enough it is indeed a book for kids and not so kids. The idea of the book is simply wonderful! Being the reading simplistic enough, I began to feel how I was being transformed into an 8 year old girl... It was a magical experience! On vacations on Mexico City, I found the book in a small bookstore and I didnýt loose the opportunity to purchase it. This book is one of my favorites and I don't get tired of recommending it to friends who have children and to read it whenever an opportunity appears.

POLAR EXPRESS
Vocal Score
Series: Vocal Score
Publisher: G. Schirmer, Inc.
SATB


Composer: Robert Kapilow


Based on a famous Christmas story, this delightful work for baritone and children's chorus is by the composer of the immensely popular Green Eggs and Ham.