2. THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK ______________________________________________________ CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG

3. INTRODUCTION I first saw the drawings in this book a year ago, in the house of a man named Peter Wenders. Though Mr. Wenders is retired now, he once worked for a children’s book publisher, choosing the stories and pictures that would be turned into books. Thirty years ago a man called at Peter Wenders’ office, introducing himself as Harris Burdick. Mr. Burdick explained that he had written fourteen stories and had drawn many pictures for each one. He’d brought with him just one drawing from each story, to see if Wenders liked his work. Peter Wenders was fascinated by the drawings. He told Burdick he would like to read the stories that went with them as soon as possible. The artist agreed to bring the stories the next morning. He left the fourteen drawings with Wenders. But he did not return the next day. Or the day after that. Harris Burdick was never heard from again. Over the years, Wenders tried to find out who Burdick was and what had happened to him, but he discovered nothing. To this day, Harris Burdick remains a complete mystery. His disappearance is not the only mystery left behind. What were the stories that went with these drawings? There are some clues. Burdick had written a title and caption for each picture. When I told Peter Wenders how difficult it was to look at the drawings and their captions without imagining a story, he smiled and left the room. He returned with a dust-covered cardboard box. Inside were dozens of stories, all inspired by the Burdick’s drawings. They’d been written years ago by Wenders’ children and their friends. I spent the rest of my visit reading these stories. They were remarkable, some bizarre, some funny, some downright scary. In the hope that other children will be inspired by them, the Burdick drawings have been reproduced here for the first time.

6. ARCHIE SMITH, BOY WONDER ______________________ A tiny voice asked, "Is he the one?" ARCHIE SMITH, NIÑO MARAVILLA Una vocecita preguntó: - ¿Es él?

8. UNDER THE RUG ______________________ Two weeks passed and it happened again. DEBAJO DE LA ALFOMBRA Pasaron dos semanas y volvió a suceder

10. A STRANGE DAY IN JULY ______________________ He threw with all his might, but the third stone came skipping back. UN EXTRAÑO DIA EN JULIO Lanzó con todas sus fuerzas, Pero la tercera piedra rebotó de regreso

12. MISSING IN VENICE _______________________ Even with her mighty engines in reverse, the ocean liner was pulled further and further into the canal. EXTRAVÌO EN VENECIA Aún con sus potentes motores en reversa, El trasatlántico fue arrastrado más y más en el canal

14. ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER TIME ______________________ If there was an answer, he'd find it there. OTRO LUGAR. OTRO TIEMPO Si había una respuesta, él la encontrará

16. UNINVITED GUESTS ______________________ His heart was pounding. He was sure he had seen the doorknob turn. HUÉSPEDES SIN INVITACIÓN Su corazón latía desbocado. Estaba seguro de que había visto girar el tirador de la puerta.

18. THE HARP _________________ So it's true he thought, it's really true. EL ARPA Así que es verdad, pensó, es realmente cierto

20. MR. LINDEN'S LIBRARY He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late. LA BIBLIOTECA DEL SEÑOR LINDEN Él la había prevenido sobre el libro. Ahora era demasiado tarde

22. THE SEVEN CHAIRS The fifth one ended up in France. LAS SIETE SILLAS La quinta silla terminó en Francia

24. THE THIRD-FLOOR BEDROOM It all began when someone left the window open. LA ALCOBA DEL TERCER PISO Todo comenzó cuando alguien dejó abierta la ventana

26. JUST DESSERT She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter. SÓLO POSTRE Acercó el cuchillo y se iluminó aún más

28. CAPTAIN TORY He swung his lantern three times and slowly the schooner appeared. CAPITÁN TORY Movió su farol tres veces y lentamente apareció la goleta

30. OSCAR AND ALPHONSE She knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out "goodbye". OSCAR Y ALFONSO Sabía que era el momento de devolverlos. Las orugas se deslizaron suavemente por Su mano al escribir “adiós”.

32. THE HOUSE ON MAPLE STREET It was a perfect lift-off. LA CASA DE LA CALLE MAPLE Fue un despegue perfecto