Top 59 Quotes by Chris Van Allsburg

Peter Rabbit's not a rabbit. Peter Rabbit is a proxy for the child who reads the book, and they imagine themselves in the rabbit's position.

At first, I see pictures of a story in my mind. Then creating the story comes from asking questions of myself. I guess you might call it the 'what if - what then' approach to writing and illustration.

Your house is all about routine, not the unexpected events of your life.

The idea of the extraordinary happening in the context of the ordinary is what's fascinating to me.

I'm not a perfectionist. I'm just very observant.

I sculpted for four or five years. Mostly for my own amusement, I decided to do a picture book, and that was kind of a turning point.

I think parents generally know what's best for their children. But I suppose it's possible to be overprotective.

I'm always a bit disappointed when I've finished working on a book.

A good picture book should have events that are visually arresting - the pictures should call attention to what is happening in the story.

I have very positive memories of reading biographies of unusual Americans as a child.