The Polar Express

Title: “The Polar Express”

Author:                Chris Van Allsburg                          

Genre:  Picture Book/Fantasy                                                                    

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co.                

Copyright Date: 1985

Pages in Book:

Reading Level:

Summary: A young boy is struggling to believe in Santa Clause and even the North Pole. A while after he went to bed, just lying there, he heard a noise outside. The Polar Express was standing outside his house, waiting for him to board. Hesitantly he boards the train, and joins with a group of children who begin telling him of how they are going to the North Pole. He begins to relax as they drink hot chocolate and talking about how they hope that they are the first to be chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. Finally they arrive at the North Pole, and the young boy is overcome with all the wonderful Christmas lights, decorations, and the countless number of Santa’s elves. The begin filing off the train, when they are joined by Santa, his sleigh, and his reindeer. The odd thing is, the young boy can’t hear the reindeer’s bells jingling as the move and dance around. It’s all about faith though, because only believers could hear of the sound that it made. Santa picks the young boy, and after being able to now hear the wonderful sound that the reindeer’s bells make, he decides to pick a bell off the reindeer’s harness.  He puts it into his robe pocket, and he and the other children board the train again. On the way home, the children crowd around him, begging to see the bell. But alas, the bell is missing because there is a hole in the pocket of his robe. Saddened, the Polar Express pulls up to his house, and he goes in an crawls into bed. The next morning, when they are opening presents, his sister pulls out the very last present from underneath the tree. It’s addressed to the boy, and he opens it. Inside is the bell, along with a note from Santa. He jingles the bell and only he and his sister are able to hear the noise. It’s broken, to his parents’ knowledge since they can’t hear the sound. Years down the road, his sister and friends loose the opportunity to hear the sound the bell makes, but he never stopped believing, therefore he never stopped hearing of its sound.

Reaction: I just thought this was an amazing book. It was so inspired, and well written. It allows the children to use their imagination and they are able to take an imaginary journey to Santa/The North Pole. I love the message that it sends as well. To me, it sends the message of faith, and that if you have faith in something, it will always be there for you. Also the illustrations in this book are amazing.

Recommendation: Honestly I would recommend this to children and adults of all ages. It’s such a wonderful book, and although it’s mostly for the Christmas season, I think it’s one that could be read all year round.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: I have no problems or conflicts with this book. It’s one of my favorites, and I couldn’t find anything wrong with it.