The Polar Express

By: Chris Van Allsburg

Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

This famous picture book won the Caldecott Medal in 1986 for children's literature . The Caldecott is awarded to the illustrator for a distinguished picture book for children. It is named after an English illustrator, Randolf Caldecott. 

The Polar Express takes place in Michigan on Christmas Eve.  A young boy is woken up by a noise outside of his house, and he finds a train outside the front of his home.  He is welcomed aboard the train, called the polar express.  Inside the train are many other children, and they are on their way to the North Pole.  They make it to the North Pole and the boy meets Santa Clause, who gives him a special bell that will make sound only if he believes. He misplaces the bell, however on christmas morning under his tree, is the bell.

• It is a popular christmas story for children.  It is known to have a calm and easy to follow storyline. 
• The illustrations are large on the pages, and appear realistic.  The colors are similar throughout the story. 

Below is the trailer for the movie The Polar Express