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Books by Chris Van Allsburg | Wonderlit

Books by Chris Van Allsburg

14 books · Ages 4–12

Known for the Jumanji series, Chris Van Allsburg writes picture books and middle grade for ages 4–12, alongside 13 standalone books, exploring themes of curiosity & wonder, adventure, fear & bravery.

Series

Zathura

1 book · Ages 5–10

Standalone Books (Ages 4–7)

Cover of Ben's Dream

Chris Van Allsburg

On a rainy day, Ben drifts into a fantastical dream where his house floats through a flooded world. He journeys past ico

Cover of The Wreck of the Zephyr

The Wreck of the Zephyr

Chris Van Allsburg

High on a seaside cliff, a mysterious old man tells the tale of a boy who was the most talented, daring, and boastful sa

Cover of The Stranger

Chris Van Allsburg

By Age Range

Ben's Dream

The Wreck of the Zephyr

The Stranger

Ben's Dream

The Wreck of the Zephyr

Common Themes

Curiosity & Wonder Adventure Fear & Bravery Nature & Outdoors Growing Up Creativity & Imagination Resilience & Perseverance Fantasy & Magic

After Farmer Bailey hits a mysterious hitchhiker with his truck, the stranger's recovery seems strangely linked to the a

Ages 5–10

Cover of The Z Was Zapped

The Z Was Zapped

Chris Van Allsburg

The alphabet has never looked quite like this. Watch as A is caught in an avalanche and B is badly bitten in a series of

Cover of Two Bad Ants

Chris Van Allsburg

Two restless ants leave their colony for a taste of the unknown, only to find that the world outside is much more danger

Cover of Just a Dream

Chris Van Allsburg

A vivid dream of a polluted future changes Walter’s perspective, showing him how much the environment depends on his car

Cover of The Wretched Stone

The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg

A ship's crew discovers a mysterious glowing rock on a deserted island, but as they grow obsessed with it, they begin to

Cover of Bad Day at Riverbend

Bad Day at Riverbend

Chris Van Allsburg

For children who enjoy stories that play with perspective and reality, offering a twist that sparks wonder and conversat

Cover of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

Chris Van Allsburg

An artist left behind a collection of mysterious drawings, each with only a title and a single line of text to hint at t

Cover of Queen of the Falls

Queen of the Falls

Chris Van Allsburg

In 1901, sixty-two-year-old Annie Edson Taylor seeks fame and fortune by becoming the first person to survive a trip ove

Cover of The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie

The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie

Chris Van Allsburg

For children learning about the responsibility of pet ownership and the importance of treating all living creatures with

Cover of Jumanji

Chris Van Allsburg

A quiet afternoon vanishes when an enchanted board game brings wild jungle animals and dangerous environmental hazards r

Cover of The Polar Express

The Polar Express

Chris Van Allsburg

A late-night train ride through a snowy landscape offers a calm, beautifully illustrated journey to the heart of holiday

The Stranger

The Wretched Stone

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

If Your Family Loves Chris Van Allsburg, Also Try

Can't Scare Me!

Can't Scare Me!

Frindleswylde

To the Top of the World: Barbara Hillary, the First Black Woman to Reach the North and South Poles

Deborah Blumenthal

To the Top of the World: Barbara Hillary, the First Black Woman to Reach the North and South Poles

Fire in the Forest!

Samantha Brooke

Fire in the Forest!

Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer

Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer