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On Picture Books

 Chris Van Allsburg is always in a dialogue with Maurice Sendak. The greatness of "Where the Wild Things Are" grows out of its mystery: Did Max travel or did he not? If he didn't, why did his mom overlook him when she brought food to his room? And why is the moon different in the final image of Max's window? These (I think) are questions that inspire Van Allsburg.


In "The Polar Express," the little boy continues to hear the ringing of his bell after all others can no longer hear. Is this because of a special knowledge that the boy has (or is it just that the boy is slightly deranged)? ....In the final moments of "Jumanji," Peter and Judy notice two friends with the dangerous game board. Should they speak up--or is their memory somehow "false"? What might happen if they stay silent?

My favorite of the ambiguous Van Allsburg endings is in his first book, "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi." For a long while, young Alan has felt convinced that the dog Fritz briefly occupied the shape of a magic duck. Surely, this can't be true. Except--as a duck--Fritz grabbed Alan's hat. And--in the final seconds--as if from nowhere--the doggie Fritz produces a chewed-up drool-soaked version of Alan's hat.

If Van Allsburg continued with the story, it would lose so much of its power. It's Van Allsburg's restraint that helps to make "Gasazi" a classic picture book.

The other wonderful feature in this book is Gasazi's haunted house--like a new version of the Bates Motel. It seems like a human character; it threatens to attack little Alan, to push him out of the frame.

Excellent book.





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