The Polar Express tells the

story of a young boy lying

in bed on Christmas Eve,
waiting in anticipation to
hear the bells of Santas
sleigh. While he is awake in
anticipatuion, he hears a
very different sound howl
through his suburban
neighborhood. It is the
sound of a steam engine
halting outside his house!
He is invited to come
aboard and join dozens of
other children on their way
to the North Pole to meet
Santa!
Once they arrive at the
center of the North Pole,
Santa chooses this boy to
give the first gift of
Christmas to. He knows he
can choose anything in the
world, but the boy only
wants a bell off of Santas
sleigh. As he is being given
this gift and stows it in his
pocket just as Santa rides
away to deliver the
Christmas gifts!
When the boy returns to
the train he suddenly
realizes there is a hole in
the pocket of the robe, and
his silver bell is lost. When
he wakes up the next
morning, under the tree his
little sister finds a box, and
what is inside it? Santas
silver bell! The boy and his
sister are mesmerized by
the sound the bell makes
but their parents cannot

The Polar Express

The Polar express has
become a symbol of
the holiday season for
millions of children,
and adults alike,
throughout the world.
A story of hope,
kindness, and
Christmas magic, the
Polar Express raced
into the heart of
millions when it was
awarded the
Caldecott medal in
1986.
The Polar Express is
magic indeed. New
York Times
One of Van Allsburgs
most treasured
visions. Newsweek
As always, the forms
are sculptured, the
perspectives as
dazzling as they are
audacious, the colors
rich and elegant, the
use of light and
shadow masterly.
The Horn Book Guide