I don't like to travel. Yet all my books seem to involve a journey. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I'm always a bit disappointed when I've finished working on a book. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I don't like to get scared - it's not one of the emotions I enjoy. So I have to assume that if… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
It was the case for a number of years that I was doing a book a year, but that was back when… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I sculpted for four or five years. Mostly for my own amusement, I decided to do a picture book, and that was… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I've heard stories about authors filled with this kind of Lotto-winner hubris. I'm a Dutch boy from the Midwest. We don't have… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
It seems to me that not only the writing in most children's books condescends to kids, but so does the art. I… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I've always thought of the book as a visual art form, and it should represent a single artistic idea, which it does… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
“Book lovers love books!" her mother announced. "There's romance about the books- even having them seems to have a kind of excitement."… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
A good picture book should have events that are visually arresting - the pictures should call attention to what is happening in… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
The general effect of viewing 'Jumanji' is thrilling. I was able to see on film a thing that at one point had… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
When somebody says, 'This must be a children's book,' basically they're saying, 'You must be a child.' And so my answer is,… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I try to satisfy the desires that people have to have their books personalized. That's a value, or feature, of bibliophilia that… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
The Polar Express was the easiest of my picture book manuscripts to write... Once I realized the train was going to the… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
What kids are exposed to on television is more frightening and horrifying than what they see in my books. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
I am never really surprised at the way my books take shape. They are just not as perfect as I'd like them… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
Peter Rabbit's not a rabbit. Peter Rabbit is a proxy for the child who reads the book, and they imagine themselves in… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
It did occur to me that certainly African-Americans are not underserved in picture books, but those books are almost all about specifically… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
Authors of books are not given very much control over the films that are made from their books. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share Image
My ideas are not meant to suggest dreams or reality, but a surreal quality. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
'The Polar Express' began with the idea of a train standing alone in the woods. I asked myself, 'What if a boy gets on… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
“Book lovers love books!" her mother announced. "There's romance about the books- even having them seems to have a kind of excitement." from Mr.… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
Following my muse has worked out pretty well so far. I can't see any reason to change the formula now. — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
People have asked me a lot, 'What comes first? The pictures or the story? The story or the picture?' It's hard to describe because… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me that's a… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
I write for what's left of the eight-year-old still rattling around inside my head — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
In the same way that a mundane object can have a personality somehow, I try to suggest that a mundane setting can have some… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
Peter Rabbit's not a rabbit. Peter Rabbit is a proxy for the child who reads the book, and they imagine themselves in the rabbit's… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
Brainstorming, for me, takes place in my bed at night between the time I turn out my lights and I finally fall asleep. It… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
The inclination to believe in the fantastic may strike some as a failure in logic, or gullibility, but it’s really a gift. A world… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
The whole idea of being mesmerized and not in control of your own actions is fascinating and a little spooky. I remember hearing about… — Chris Van Allsburg Copy Share
