Chris Van Allsburg Books in Order

Where to Start with Chris Van Allsburg

For most readers, the best entry point into Chris Van Allsburg's dreamlike bibliography is through his two Caldecott Medal-winning masterpieces: Jumanji (1981) and The Polar Express (1985). These books perfectly encapsulate his signature style—a blend of realistic, highly textured illustrations and surreal, mysterious narratives. Starting here gives you an immediate sense of his storytelling magic and artistic depth.

If you prefer starting with something more open-ended and interactive, begin with The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984). This book consists of a series of unrelated, eerie illustrations with brief captions that invite readers to construct their own narratives, making it a favorite for classrooms and creative minds alike.

The Jumanji & Zathura Series

While almost all of Van Allsburg's picture books are standalone works, he did create one famous two-book series that shares a direct narrative link:

1. Jumanji (1981) – Two bored children find a mysterious board game in a park, only to discover that every move they make on the board manifests in real-life jungle chaos inside their house.
2. Zathura: A Space Adventure (2002) – A direct thematic sequel. At the end of the original Jumanji book, two brothers (Danny and Walter) take the game. In Zathura, they discover a second board game on the reverse side of the Jumanji board, which sends their entire house hurtling into deep space.

Reading Advice: Read Jumanji first, followed by Zathura. While the movie adaptations expanded these stories into a wider cinematic universe, the original books are tightly focused companion pieces that are best enjoyed in order.

The Harris Burdick Duology

Another unique connection in Van Allsburg's bibliography revolves around his 1984 book, which later expanded into a collaborative anthology:

• The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984) – The original picture book featuring fourteen drawings, each with a title and a single caption line, supposedly left behind by a missing author named Harris Burdick.
• The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales (2011) – An official anthology containing fourteen fully realized short stories inspired by the original illustrations. The collection features stories written by prominent authors such as Stephen King, Lois Lowry, Sherman Alexie, and Louis Sachar, with an introduction by Lemony Snicket.

Reading Advice: Always read the original picture book first to let your own imagination run wild before reading the stories written by other authors in the 2011 anthology.

Mark Helprin's Swan Lake Trilogy (Illustrated by Van Allsburg)

Although Chris Van Allsburg is primarily known for writing and illustrating his own stories, he collaborated with author Mark Helprin to illustrate a trilogy of winter-themed fantasy novellas. These books feature Helprin's rich, poetic prose alongside Van Allsburg's lush, full-color paintings:

1. Swan Lake (1989) – A creative retelling of the classic ballet story, focusing on the Prince, the Swan Queen Odette, and their struggle against the sorcerer Von Rothbart.
2. A City in Winter (1996) – Follows the ten-year-old daughter of the Swan Queen as she journeys to reclaim her parents' throne from a cruel Usurper.
3. The Veil of Snows (1997) – The final chapter, following the Queen as an adult facing the return of the Usurper's forces.

These three books can be read in chronological order or purchased together in the single-volume collection, A Kingdom Far and Clear: The Complete Swan Lake Trilogy.

Complete Publication Order of Picture Books and Plays

If you want to read through Chris Van Allsburg's complete solo work, chronological publication order is highly recommended. Reading them in this order allows you to watch his art style transition from early black-and-white charcoal drawings to vibrant, full-color pastels and pencils.

1. The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (1979)
2. Jumanji (1981)
3. Ben's Dream (1982)
4. The Wreck of the Zephyr (1983)
5. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984)
6. The Polar Express (1985)
7. The Stranger (1986)
8. The Z Was Zapped (1987) – A unique alphabet book structured like a play in twenty-six acts.
9. Two Bad Ants (1988)
10. Just a Dream (1990)
11. The Wretched Stone (1991)
12. The Widow's Broom (1992)
13. The Sweetest Fig (1993)
14. Bad Day at Riverbend (1995)
15. Probuditi! (2006)
16. Queen of the Falls (2011) – A biographical picture book about Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
17. The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie (2014)

What to Know Before You Start: The Fritz Cameo Challenge

Before you dive into his books, there is one crucial easter egg you should know about: Fritz the Bull Terrier. Fritz is a real-life dog who belonged to Chris Van Allsburg's brother-in-law and served as the model for the dog in his debut book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. As a tribute, Van Allsburg has snuck a cameo of Fritz into almost every single one of his subsequent books. Whether as a toy, a drawing on a wall, a reflection, or a minor background character, hunting for Fritz is a beloved reader tradition and adds an extra layer of fun to reading through his bibliography.