The second is to treat the supernatural elements in the stories with absolute realism. The first is that they respect the intelligence of their young readers to figure out what is happening long before the characters in the stories do. Van Allsburg, who appears at Quail Ridge Books & Music on Nov.11, writes seemingly sweet, unassuming picture books that rely on two key rules. But there’s something richer, more mysterious and darker beneath the surface, and that’s what has kept his books alive in the imaginations of a generation of children–and led many to pass them down to their own children in turn. Sure, Jumanjiseems like a delightful romp about a jungle-themed board game whose obstacles come to life until the young players finish, and The Polar Express is about a magical visit to Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. It’s funny how easy it is to think of Chris Val Allsburg’s picture books as whimsical tales for children.
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