Chris Van Allsburg, born on June 18, 1949, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an acclaimed American writer and illustrator of children's books. His significant contributions to the literary world have earned him two Caldecott Medals for U.S. picture book illustration, for Jumanji (1981) and The Polar Express (1985), both of which he also authored and which were later adapted into successful motion pictures. In addition, he was a Caldecott runner-up in 1980 for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi.

Van Allsburg's remarkable talent also led to his nomination for the biennial International Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1986, the highest international recognition for creators of children's books. His creative journey was further acknowledged when he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Michigan in April 2012.

Chris was born into a family that owned and operated a creamery, where they produced and delivered dairy products to homes around Grand Rapids. This environment, reminiscent of a bygone era, influenced his imaginative and vivid storytelling. He spent his childhood in an old farmhouse next to the large brick creamery building, a setting that would inspire the richly detailed and fantastical worlds found in his books.