The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

Gr 5–8—For 27 years, the mystery that is Harris Burdick and his 14 enigmatic illustrations (The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, Houghton Mifflin, 1984) has intrigued audiences of all ages, inspiring the creation of countless fan-written stories. Among those we can now count the contributions of an all-star cast of authors whose tales tell the stories that Burdick was never able to share. Spearheaded by Chris Van Allsburg, this collection (Houghton Mifflin, 2011) of creepy, humorous, and sometimes spine-chilling stories remains true to the artwork that inspired them. Whether it is Sherman Alexie's mean-spirited twins getting their comeuppance in "Strange Day in July"or Kate DiCamillo's serene epistolary telling of "The Third-Floor Bedroom," narrator Cassandra Campbell breathes life into each unique character, even those who have been dead for decades, such as Louis Sachar's "Captain Tory." Distinctive and lyrical, Campbell's voice effortlessly draws listeners into the tales with her cadence and pacing and provides the eclectic collection with cohesion. A solid addition to public and school libraries that will have listeners eagerly looking for the book that inspired it all.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH