The Polar Express

Written and Illustrated by: Chris Van Allsburg

Published By: Houghton Mifflin Company

Pages: 32

Ages: 7-9

A boy(who does not believe in Santa) wakes up on Christmas Eve, and hears a train outside of his window. He looks out the window to see a conductor calling him to get on the train. As the boy boards the train he is told that this is the Polar Express and it is going to the North Pole. On the train they eat cookies, and drink hot coco. They pass through forests, mountains, ice caps, and finally the North Pole. The children on the train are told everyone in the North Pole is gathered in town square to see who gets the first Christmas gift. When the boy sees Santa, Santa calls him up and asks him what he wants for Christmas. The boy told Santa that he wanted a silver bell from Santa's sleigh more than anything .The boy received the first gift of Christmas, the bell. When the clock struck midnight, Santa and his reindeer were off to deliver gifts. All of the children got back on the train, and when they pulled away the little boy noticed there was a hole in his pocket and the bell was no where to be found. Sad, he returns home, and back to bed. Christmas morning after all the gifts were opened there was one small package left under the tree, it was the silver bell. When the boy rang it, only him and his sister could hear it. And over the years, less and less can hear the bell, but the little boy always can, and always will.

Who would I recommend this to: Anyone who wants to feel the Christmas spirit.

Possible Conflicts/problems? For parents who don't teach there is a Santa, or who don't believe in Christmas, they probably wouldn't want their children to read it.

My reaction: I have always loved this book, and always will. It is such a great way to get excited about Christmas. And the illustrations are amazing! I give this book 5 stars *****