Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg (born 1949) is an American author and illustrator of children’s picture books. He is known for combining realistic artwork with mysterious, imaginative stories. Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated *Jumanji* and *The Polar Express*, two of his best-known books. His work has been widely read and adapted, and he is recognized for creating picture books that appeal to both children and adults. Through carefully detailed illustrations and suspenseful narratives, he often invites readers to question what is real and what is magical. Van Allsburg’s books have become modern classics in children’s literature.