This inspired collection of short stories is based on the original illustrations of Chris Van Allsburg in his esteemed and mysterious The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, and 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, Stephen King, Tabitha King, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, Walter Dean Myers, Linda Sue Park, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka, Lemony Snicket, and Chris Van Allsburg himself. Van Allsburg's Harris Burdick illustrations have evoked such wonderment and imagination since Harris Burdick's original publication in 1984; many have speculated or have woven their own stories to go with his images. More than ever, the illustrations send off their eerie call for text and continue to compel and pick at the reader's brain for a backstory - a threaded tale behind the image. In this book, we've collected some of the best storytellers to spin them.

"Fourteen curious, teasing, sometimes humorous and sometimes dark stories . . . create an extraordinary whole that offers new interpretations of the pictures while still leaving room to wonder." -- Julia Eccleshare * Guardian *
"A beautifully produced, compelling book." -- NIcolette Jones * Sunday Times, Book of the Week *
"Each contribution has its own telltale flavor of menace, leaving readers to discover their favourites...In life, it seems, as in this beguiling book, no one ever really gets the last word." * New York Times (Editor's Choice) *
"Fascinating" -- Daniel Hahn * Independent on Sunday, Best Books of the Year *
"Van Allsburg’s haunting and evocative monochrome illustrations provide starting points for the appropriately eerie, often macbre narratives." * Irish Times *

Chris is the winner of three Caldecott Medals, for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Jumanji and The Polar Express, and was the recipient of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Additionally, he received the Boston Globe Honor for The Polar Express as well as The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Chris has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island and lectures at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is a sculptor and artist.