New Releases by Chris Van Allsburg

From the astonishing imagination of Chris Van Allsburg (Jumanji, The Polar Express) A Caldecott Honor Book Sometimes that very thin line between illusion and reality is not as clearly defined as we would like it to be. It certainly wasn't the day that Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. For in this bizarre and eerie place—where strange topiary trees loomed—the eerie visage of Gasazi casts its shadow. And even after Alan escapes, the spell of Gasazi still seems to penetrate into his everyday world. The very first picture book from the astonishing imagination of legendary Chris Van Allsburg explores both the real and surreal worlds with incredible deftness in this unusual tale. In doing so, he has created exquisite and beautiful images that will linger in the minds of readers long after they have left the enchanted garden of Abdul Gasazi.

The Polar Express is for all those—of any age—who believe, come Christmas Eve, that they too will hear the sweet sound of a reindeer’s silver bell. A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical train to the North Pole . . . Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a barren desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the huge city standing alone at the top of the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish. For millions of readers around the world, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved Christmas classic. The Polar Express is a Caldecott Medal winner, and reading the story together is a beloved holiday tradition held by generations of families. It has also become a favorite holiday movie and been translated into stage productions that take place across the United States during the holiday season.

In this picture book classic, travel with young Walter on a fantastical adventure as he journeys—by way of his bed—into a polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to our collective and individual environmental responsibility. Walter does not appreciate the beauty of nature, or understand his role in keeping the planet healthy . . . until a fantastic journey shows him the tragic fate that could befall Earth if humans like him are not more careful. Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express) pairs pitch-perfect narrative with his full-color pastel illustrations, rendering this picture book a story that has stood the test of time. "Two-time Caldecott Medalist Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both illustration and storytelling in his latest work." (Publishers Weekly) This anniversary edition includes bonus downloadable audio, read by Chris Van Allsburg and a stunning new jacket!

After being given two magical figs that make his dreams come true, Monsieur Bibot sees his plans for future wealth upset by his long-suffering dog.

From two-time Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, comes a poignant story of one hamster's struggle with destiny. Being a pet store hamster isn't much fun for Sweetie Pie, but life in human homes proves downright perilous. As Sweetie Pie longingly gazes out of his cage at the squirrels frolicking in the trees, he wonders if he'll ever have the chance to feel the wind in his fur. Allsburg's expressive, soft-hued illustrations artfully capture a hamster's-eye view of the wide and wonderful world where maybe, just maybe, Sweetie Pie could someday run free.

In 1983, beloved Caldecott-winning illustrator, Chris Van Allsburg, first invited readers to peer over the edge of a cliff to consider the wreck of a small sailboat. Had a churning sea carried the Zephyr up in a storm? Could waves ever have been so impossibly high? And what of the boy who had believed—dared to chase the wind—no matter where it lead? The winds have shifted once again and you’re invited back to the wreck of the Zephyr, to hear the story of the boy and his obsession to become the world’s greatest sailor, and a storm that carried them to a place where boats sail on the wind, instead of on the water. Told in spare text and haunting, full-color pastels, Chris Van Allsburg’s spectral sailboats once again take impossbile flight. In illustrations so vivid one can feel the whisper of wind and hear the flutter of canvas, depart this world for another to entertain the marvelous possibility of dreams. This 30th anniversary edition includes a bonus digital audio file to download, read by Chris Van Allsburg, and a stunning new cover!

« Le vent sifflait dans le gréement tandis que le Zéphyr, à grand peine, avançait sur les flots. Le ciel s’obscurcit et les vagues devinrent hautes comme des Montagnes ».

1900. Annie Edson Taylor est une veuve de 62 ans au bout du rouleau. Elle n’a plus un seul élève à son cours de danse et de maintien. Alors Annie réfléchit. Que désire-t-elle ? La fortune et la gloire. Quel est son meilleur souvenir d’enfance ? Les chutes du Niagara, découvertes à neuf ans, avec son père. Souvenir et désir se mêlent : Annie va braver les chutes et devenir célèbre ! Au début, tout le monde la prend pour une folle. N’empêche : le premier homme à avoir descendu seul les célèbres chutes fut une femme : elle !

An inspired collection of short stories by an all-star cast of best-selling storytellers based on the thought-provoking illustrations in Chris Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. For more than twenty-five years, the illustrations in the extraordinary Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg have intrigued and entertained readers of all ages. Thousands of children have been inspired to weave their own stories to go with these enigmatic pictures. Now we’ve asked some of our very best storytellers to spin the tales. Enter The Chronicles of Harris Burdick to gather this incredible compendium of stories: mysterious, funny, creepy, poignant, these are tales you won’t soon forget. This inspired collection of short stories features many remarkable, best-selling authors in the worlds of both adult and children's literature: Sherman Alexie, M.T. Anderson, Kate DiCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Jules Feiffer, Tabitha King, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, Walter Dean Myers, Linda Sue Park, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka, Lemony Snicket, and Chris Van Allsburg himself. NOTE: "The House on Maple Street" by Stephen King is not included in this ebook edition.

She could remember standing in a park near the falls, hypnotized by the sight and sound, and holding her father’s hand as they took a walk that would lead them closer. That’s what everyone wonders when they see Niagara . . . How close will their courage let them get to it? At the turn of the nineteenth century, a retired sixty-two-year-old charm school instructor named Annie Edson Taylor, seeking fame and fortune, decided to do something that no one in the world had ever done before—she would go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Come meet the Queen of the Falls and witness with your own eyes her daring ride!

This set of grade 5 math resources covers multiplication and division word problems; perimeter and area; addition and subtraction of whole numbers and decimals; circles, polygons, and angles; addition and subtraction with fractions; volume, capacity, and weight; multiplication and division with whole numbers and decimals; algebra, functions, and graphs; multiplication and division with fractions; patterns and transformations; ratio, proportion, and percent; three-dimensional figures.

Probouditi signifie Réveille-toi en croate. C''est une formule magique qui permet à Lomax le magicien de transformer, pendant quelques instants, une dame en poule. Calvin a l''idée d''essayer cette formule sur sa petite soeur Trudy pour la transformer en chien. Il y parvient mais ne se souvient plus comment inverser le sortilège. Leur mère risque de rentrer bientôt.

On his birthday, Calvin and his friend Rodney see a magician perform, then copy him by hypnotizing Calvin's little sister, but the joke isn't so funny when they are unable to snap her out of it.

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

A boy who is eagerly awaiting a visit from Santa Claus accepts a ride on a magical train headed for the North Pole.

Presents a series of loosely-related drawings, each accompanied by a title and a caption, which the reader may use to make up his or her own story.

Album - rêve - richesse.

One magical Christmas eve, a young boy boards the Polar Express and finds himself in North Pole City. He meets Santa, receives the first gift of the season, a silver bell. Next morning the boy and his sister marvel at its beautiful ring, but his parents think it''s broken for only believers can hear the sound. Activities in this Literature Unit delve deeper into the themes and characterizations found in The Polar Express.

When Sheriff Hardy investigates the source of a brilliant light and shiny slime afflicting Riverbend, he finds that the village is becoming part of a child's coloring book streaked with greasy crayons.

After being given two magical figs that make his dreams come true, Monsieur Bibot sees his plans for future wealth upset by his long-suffering dog.

Las escobas de las brujas no son eternas. Se van haciendo viejas y llega el d a en que, a n las mejores, pierden la capacidad de volar. Afortunadamente, esto no sucede en un instante. Una bruja puede sentir c mo, poco a poco, su escoba va perdiendo potencia. Los derroches de energ a que alguna vez la elevaron se van debilitando...

Un superbe album. Un récit merveilleux empreint de magie, captivant du début à la fin et rédigé dans un style des plus agréables. Ombres et lumière s''amusent dans les illustrations monochromes. Un balai ensorceleur.

A strange glowing stone picked up on a sea voyage captivates a ship's crew and has a terrible transforming effect on them.