Children’s author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen at Left Bank Books – MAINE ART SCENE MAGAZINE

(Belfast, Maine) Books of the left bank invites the public – especially those in pre-kindergarten through third or fourth grade – to meet the celebrated children’s author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen on Friday, July 12th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free event will feature lots of laughter, storytelling and reading. Copies of his books can be purchased and signed by Van Dusen.

Van Dusen’s latest book is the hugely popular Big Truck Little Island, based on a true story that took place on the Maine island of Vinalhaven. His clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations tell the story of a big truck and its heavy load that get stuck on a narrow road and bring traffic to a standstill on the island. Van Dusen always brings humor, adventure, lively language and colorful illustrations to all of his books.

His most popular books include the If I Built… series. If I Built a Car won the EB White Read-Aloud Award from the Association of Booksellers for Children in 2006. Other books in the series include If I Built a House and If I Built a School. Both are about a young boy named Jack whose imagination knows no bounds. The school of Jack’s dreams, for example, is a school full of animals, with tubes that transport students directly to their classrooms and library books that come to life.

Van Dusen also wrote and illustrated the Mr. Magee book series – Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee and Learning to Ski with Mr. Mage – as well as the perennial bestseller Circus Ship, which is loosely based on a true historical event in which a circus ship ran aground off the coast of Maine.

As an illustrator, Van Dusen has collaborated with Newbery Medal-winning author Kate DiCamillo on her Mercy Watson series of chapter books for early readers. Mercy is a “pig wonder” who delights her readers by taking them on her wacky adventures.

Anyone is welcome to stop by Left Bank Books anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to meet Van Dusen and get copies of his books signed, most of which will be available in the store. No reservations are required for this free event, but to reserve copies of Van Dusen’s books in advance, please call (207) 338-9009 or email [email protected]. The store is located at 109 Church Street in downtown Belfast. There is ample free parking in front of the store and in an adjacent municipal parking lot.