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Meet the Writer
Chris Van Allsburg is the author and illustrator of several popular books, including Jumanji, The Polar Express, and Zathura. People of all ages enjoy his work, especially for its beautiful illustrations. What most people do not know is that math and science were his favorite subjects in school, but he went on to study art in college. He quickly discovered that the doodling he did as a student could become a career. Weekly Reader interviewed Van Allsburg as he began the next round of the Weekly Writer series. He talked about how he starts a book and what he thinks of his work being made into movies.
Weekly Reader: How do you come up with your stories? Chris Van Allsburg: Before I put pencil to paper, I usually spend a lot of time thinking about a story. I do a lot of work on my story, laying on my back and staring at the ceiling. I think about who the characters are and what happens to them and how they are affected. Weekly Reader: So what comes next, do you write or draw first? Chris Van Allsburg: I actually see the story happening in my mind and see the images that tell the story. I write it and start to do little sketches. The words and pictures are simply ways for me to make real what is already in my head. Weekly Reader: How did it feel to see your ideas made into the movies Jumanji, Polar Express, and Zathura? Chris Van Allsburg: I think they were all good films. As an artist, I always have the opinion that I would have done things differently. It's a little bit like [the Weekly Writer]. I start the story and then someone else's imagination is going to take over. Back to Weekly Writer Story Back to Top |
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