The Polar Express

The Polar Express

Written and Illustrated by: Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-5
Awards: Caldecott Medal

This book follows a boy, who on Christmas Eve, aboard a train that ended up at his house front steps. The conductor of this train explained that they are on the Polar Express and is on their way to the North Pole. The boy got on the train and saw other young children, sitting around, eating candies, drinking hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols. The train traveled through the forests, a mountain, hills, plains, and then arrived at the North Pole. At first, the children did not see any elves, but the conductor explained that everyone is at the center of the city, waiting for Santa to give out the first gift of Christmas. All of the children got off the train and was standing at the center of the city with Santa. Santa selected the boy to pick and say what ever gift he really wanted. The boy expressed that he could have picked any gift in the world, but he wanted a silver bell from Santa's sleigh. Santa happily gave the boy the bell as the first gift of Christmas. It was time for Santa to leave to deliver the rest of the world's presents. The children went back on the train and they insisted on seeing the sleigh bell that the boy received. The boy went through his pockets but the bell could not be found. It was too late to get off the train to go searching for the bell. Once the boy arrived back at home, he went to sleep to await Christmas morning. In the morning, the boy and his sister went through all of their presents and his sister found a small box with her brother's name on it. The boy opened it and it was the sleigh bell that he lost from the night before. When he shook the bell, only him and his sister were only to hear the bell and not his parents. As years pass by, his little sister eventually were not able to hear the bell anymore, but it was only him that was able to hear it as he still believed.

This is a classic book that my elementary teachers would read to my class every Christmas time. This book is needed in every class and classroom library. This book is good for all grades from Kindergarten to fifth grade. I would have my students talk with each other what present they would love to have and I would also watch the movie of this book in my class.