Chris Van Allsburg

JUMANI Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech

This speech was given at I prepared for this speech by reading and I became voracious stamp collectors. I the meeting of the American speeches of other Caldecott medalists. It loved those tiny little pictures. We wanted all Library Association in seems there are certain traditions, such as our relatives to take a vacation in the Philadelphia on July 22, describing where you were and what you Ukraine and write us lots of letters. After 1982. The Caldecott medal were doing when the Caldecott Committee three weeks of looking at nothing but for “the most distinguished chairman called with the news. I was in my stamps, I got a fever – the flu, again. In my American picture book for bed, and I was sleeping. Disbelief and delirium, all I could see was a stamp picturing children” was awarded to sleepiness combined to inspire the following the Lewis and Clark expedition. I was there, Chris Van Allsburg for reaction to Gail Sage’s hone call: “Uh... gee.” too, with Lewis and Clark, standing in front Jumanji. Throughout the conversation Gail must have of a timber fort with our Indian guides, but wondered if she’d dialed the right number. we never went anywhere. When I pulled out How could someone who spoke only in of the fever, I gave all my stamps to Russell. monosyllables write a book? Afterward, as I To this day I’m a terrible letter-write, no lay in bed, a terrible thought came to me. doubt because of my lasting aversion to What if the ALA had a secret clause, a clause stamps. that allowed the Caldecott Committee to There was a great deal of peer recogni- reverse its decision if the recipient was tion to be gained in elementary school by found to be torpid, unresponsive, and being able to draw well. One girl could draw dull-witted? If only I’d taped the conversa- horses so well, she was looked upon as a tion, I could prove to friends that I had been, kind of sorceress. (Everyone else’s horses for a little while, the Caldecott medalist. But looked like water buffalo.) Being able to no call followed telling me there had been a draw cartoon characters was a good trick, mistake. When I saw the announcement in too. Pluto and Mickey always impressed the newspaper, I knew I was safe. friends. I specialized in Dagwood Bumstead, Other speech traditions are descriptions a little too sophisticated, perhaps, to be of one’s childhood involvement with books widely appreciated. and art. In my elementary school we had art But the status gained by these skills twice a week. I loved those days. Children wanes as one gets older. Certain peer often use a slight fever as an excuse to stay pressures encourage little fingers to learn home from school, drink ginger ale, and eat how to hold a football instead of a crayon. ice cream in bed. Once, in the second grade, Rumors circulate around the schoolyard: I felt feverish at breakfast but concealed it Kids who draw or wear white socks and from my mother because it was an art day. bring violins to school on Wednesdays might Midway through in the morning art class, my have cooties. I confess to having yielded to teacher noticed that I looked a little green. these pressures. Sixth grade was the last Ordinarily it wouldn’t be unusual, but paint time I took art in public school. My interests was not being used that day. She took me went elsewhere. out into the hall where we children left our Then, in college I enrolled in art classes coats and boots and asked if I felt O.K. I said as a lark. At that time I was quite naive about I felt fine and then threw up into Billy the study of art. As a freshman I received a Marcus’ boots. I was profoundly embar- form that listed the courses I would have, rassed. The teacher was very comforting. their times and places and the necessary She took me to the nurse’s office, and my materials. Once course, described simply as mother was summoned. I went home, drank “Fgdrw,” met at eight o’clock in the morning. ginger ale, and ate ice-cream I did not know what Fgdrw meant, but the in bed. materials required were newsprint and There was another occasion when my charcoal. I went to the appointed room and physical health and my passion for art was surprised to see an older woman collided. When I was eight, my friend Russel wearing a terry-cloth robe and slippers. I

1 thought, “What? Does she live here or ing of events, in the same way film does. The something?” Maybe we’re here too early, and opportunity to create a small world between she hasn’t had time to dress,” then she took two pieces of cardboard, where time exists of her bathrobe, and I deduced the meaning yet stands still, where people talk and I tell of Fgdrw. them what to say, is exciting and rewarding. During that year the art classes I took as It is also rewarding to receive mail form a lark became more important and involving people who appreciate your work. The first than any of my other classes. In fact, it took letter I received as a result of having a book me five years to get my undergraduate published came from man in Cleveland. I degree because I never let liberal arts don’t remember his name, so I’ll use a courses get in the way of making art. Going pseudonym. His letter was written with the to classes like philosophy and French upset red Magic Marker on tissue paper. “Dear Mr. my rhythm, my pace. So I just skipped them, Van Allsburg,” he wrote, “I love your work. which upset my credit requirements (and my Do you think life as we know it will exist in parents, too). It was clear I had a fever again. the year 2000? Yours truly, Frank Selmer.” The fever to make art More recently, I received a letter from Actually, fever may be a misleading Alexandra Prinstein (her real name) from description of my own rather deliberate Delaware. “Dear Mr. Van Allsburg. I love the approach, but there is a constant urge to cre- books you write. I am so glad your books are ate. I am fascinated by the act of making so weird because I am very weird. I think you something real that at one point is only an are weird but great. I wish a volcano and idea. It is challenging and beguiling to sense flood would be in my room when I am bored. something inside, put it on paper (or carve it I am happy I am only five because I have lots in stone), and then step back and see how more years to enjoy magical gardens and much has got lost in the process. The crazy games in books by you. Love Alexan- inevitability of losing some of the idea in dra. P.S. I have younger brother Peter too.” trying to bring it to life is what keeps me Other rewards of writing and illustrating working. I am always certain that next time, are meeting and working with people like I’ll lose less. Walter Lorraine, my editor at Houghton Ideas themselves have varied origins. In Mifflin, and Anita Silvey, Houghton’s publici- writing and illustrating Jumanji, the inspira- ty person. I would like to thank them for tion was my recollection of vague disap- their support and guidance. pointment in playing board games as a child. While I’m thanking people, I would also Even when I owned Park Place with three like to thank Jan Vermeer, for the way he hotels, I never felt truly rich, and not being used light; Edgar Degas, for the way he able to interrogate Colonel Mustard person- composed; Max Klinger, for the way he told ally was always a letdown. Another motivat- a story; Federico Fellini, for making films that ing element for Jumanji was a fascination I look the way they do; Andre’ Kertesz, for the have with seeing things where they don’t photos he took; Winsor McKay, for little belong. The pictures in newspapers of cars Nemo; H. C. Westermann, for the things he that have run amok and crashed into peo- made; Gustav Stickley, for the way he built a ple’s living rooms always get my attention. chair; and Harlold, for his purple crayon. I’m There’s the room, almost normal; sofa, TV, indebted to them all; I aspire to the excel- amused home-owner, end tables, and the lence of their achievement. front end of an Oldsmobile. It occurred to And thank you to Alexandra and all the me that if an Oldsmobile in the living room other children who have written to me, and looked that good, a herd of rhinoceros could to the children who come up to me at book have real possibilities. signings to tell me how much they like I am surprised now that my fairly recent Abugazi and Pajami. Some people may discovery of the illustrated book as a way of contend that there is no image more charm- expressing ideas did not happen earlier. It is ing that a child holding a puppy or kitten. a unique medium that allows an artist-author But for me that’s a distant second. When I to deal with the passage of time, the unfold- see a child clutching a book, especially my

2 book, to his or her tiny bosom, I’m moved. Children can possess a book in a way they can never possess a video game, a TV show, or a Darth Vader doll. A book comes alive when they read it. They give it life them- selves by understanding it. Finally, I would like to thank the ALA and the Caldecott Committee for bestowing this great honor on me. Some of the artists claim praise is irrelevant in measuring the success of art, but I think it’s quite relevant. Besides, it makes me feel great.

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