Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books, born on June 18, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for blurring the lines between fantasy and reality in his works.[1][3] He studied sculpture at the University of Michigan and the Rhode Island School of Design before transitioning to children's literature, with his debut book *The Garden of Abdul Gasazi* published in 1979.[2][5] He won two Caldecott Medals for *Jumanji* (1981) and *The Polar Express* (1985), both adapted into films.[1][3]

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Jun 18, 1949 Wikipedia
Children's literature Picture books