The Polar Express

Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Copyright Date: 1985
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Number of Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 4 & Up
Genre: Fiction, Picture Book

Summary
"The Polar Express" is about a boy who, on Christmas Eve, goes on an adventure to the North Pole. A train comes to his house, and the conductor called him aboard. They go through towns, drink hot chocolate, go through forests, climb up and around mountains, until finally they make it to the North Pole. He and the other children can't see any elves, and they are then informed that the elves are all gathering towards the center of the city for when Santa would give the first gift of Christmas. They go to the center of the city and Santa chooses him (the narrator of the story)! Santa asks him what he wants for Christmas, and all he asks for is one of the reindeer's sleigh bells. He puts it in is pocket, Santa's sleigh begins to fly, and all the children get on the train to head home. On the train, everyone wants to see his sleigh bell so he reaches into his pocket only to find a hole. He lost the bell! The next morning, he and his sister had opened all their presents when she finds one more under the tree--it was the sleigh bell! He shook it and it made the most beautiful sound he and his sister had ever heard, yet his parents could not hear it. Over the years his friends and sister could hear it, but as they got older and didn't believe in Santa, their ability to hear the bell ringing disappeared. Even though they couldn't hear it, "the bell still rings for (the boy) as it does for all who truly believe."

The illustrations in this book are all made by the author, Chris Van Allsburg. The colors are more dark and wintry, and the style of the pictures along with the colors gives the book a very mysterious, magical feel.

"The Polar Express" is also a Caldecott Award winner.

Reaction
I absolutely love this book. I think the story is absolutely enchanting and the pictures are phenomenal.

Recommendations
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good Christmas story--of any age!

Problems/Conflicts
I didn't see any problems in this book.