Readers acquainted with Chris Van Allsburg’s work appreciate his plot twists and turns. His books stimulate our imaginations, none better than The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984). At a flea market, Van Allsburg saw dealers cut up books and sell the pictures individually because they were worth more. Each picture had a measure of interest and intrigue, but combined with a caption, took on an unexpected vitality—the crux of his idea for The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Van Allsburg leaves it up to his readers to sort out the fact from the fiction in this book. [Read the rest of my profile with Chris Van Allsburg.]