The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

One of Anthony Browne's favourite picture books, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick was first published in the US in 1984 and has just been published for the first time in paperback in the UK.

A man called Harris Burdick leaves a set of drawings from a series of stories he has written with the publisher with the promise of returning with the stories the next day, and then disappears, never to be heard from again.

All the publisher is left with is the illustrations with a title and caption for each picture, leaving the reader to use their imagination to create the story behind the picture and connect the stories together.

Caldecott Medal winner Chris Van Allsburg's soft back and white illustrations have a dream-like quality manipulating light, perspective and texture to create unsettling drawings. The stories mix interiors and exteriors, portraits and landscapes, all full of wonder and mysteries to be solved.

This original picture book will be a welcome creative writing and storytelling tool for children and adults of all ages.