Caption Chronicle:
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick
The chronic mystery of Harris Burdick has inspired many a chronicle, including those contained within Chris Van Allsburg’s The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. Burdick left illustrations in the care of Peter Wenders, a children’s book editor. Wenders was interested in publishing the accompanying stories, but Burdick never returned. Some of the world’s most popular authors have drawn inspiration from Burdick’s drawings. Chris Van Allsburg has published two volumes containing the pictures. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is a collection of pictures and the captions. The aforementioned Chronicles of Harris Burdick, features stories from many established writers.
Chris Van Allsburg created a website, and a system of ongoing submissions to continue to encourage readers and writers who feel inspired by Burdick’s pictures. Many illustrious writers, including Lois Lowry and Jon Scieszka, have written stories based on the illustrations. Following that example, students of the Berkeley Carroll Middle School have contributed captions to accompany a selection of illustrations. See below for images and submissions!
Interested in expanding a caption into a short story submission?
Scan the QR code for a direct link to the Chris Van Allsburg’s submission page!
Another Place, Another Time
Original Caption: If there was an answer, he’d find it there.
Maya S.
They felt the boat slip away into the darkness of the angry waves.
Natalie H.
The wind is picking up. We are almost there!
Lucy
An ongoing journey.
Nola M.
We are almost there. We are almost there!
Sadie M.Their journey had just begun
Archie Smith, Boy Wonder
Original Caption: A tiny voice asked, “Is he the one?”
Adeleen R. “He’s mine,” said a voice under the bed.
Captain Tory
Original Caption: He swung his lantern three times and slowly the schooner appeared.
Helena A.
He saw the ship and a second later it was gone.
Mac O.
The fog ship appears.
Ana M.
There they stood, man and boy, watching and waiting.
Just Desert
Original Caption: She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter.
Graham (Gravel) S.
The longer she looked at the pumpkin, the brighter it became.
Peter B.
She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter. That is very scary.
Sophie G. Trying...to cross...my eyes!
Nola M.
The voodoo pumpkin was just perfect.
The House on Maple Street
Original Caption: It was a perfect lift-off!
Alicia M.
The house popping out of the ground and shooting up like the ground does not want to have the house standing there.
The Third-Floor Bedroom
Original Caption: It all began when someone left the window open.
Sadie M. But the window wasn’t supposed to be open
Anonymous
I thought I shut the window.
Under the Rug
Original Caption: Two weeks passed and it happened again.
Freya R. The bump under the rug never moved. It was just there.
Uninvited Guests
Original Caption: His heart was pounding. He was sure he had seen the doorknob turn.
Mary D. I’m pretty sure I heard the doorknob turning. Who could be here at this time?
Emily B. The door had definitely not been there last night.
It was tiny. Not even big enough for a cat. “But what would fit?” he wondered.
