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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
My three star review is based on the audio recording alone.
I like Chris Van Allsburg very much. I like Jumanji. Such a cool book and the movies are good as well. For holiday reads, I love The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg.
Chris Van Allsburg does creepy well. In this case, creepy and Christmas do not work for me. This book would benefit without the creepy illustrations -- I suggest James Gurney (Dinotopia) or William Joyce (Guardians of Childhood) as illustrator and this book would live up to the hype. Maurice Sendak would have been fabulous as well. This book has the same feel of childish uneasiness.
I do not like the movie and always wonder why it so popular. I do not like the book because of artwork. I do like Liam Neeson, so the tale is redeemed.
I like Chris Van Allsburg very much. I like Jumanji. Such a cool book and the movies are good as well. For holiday reads, I love The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg.
Chris Van Allsburg does creepy well. In this case, creepy and Christmas do not work for me. This book would benefit without the creepy illustrations -- I suggest James Gurney (Dinotopia) or William Joyce (Guardians of Childhood) as illustrator and this book would live up to the hype. Maurice Sendak would have been fabulous as well. This book has the same feel of childish uneasiness.
I do not like the movie and always wonder why it so popular. I do not like the book because of artwork. I do like Liam Neeson, so the tale is redeemed.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
5/5*
Well obviously this magical and beautiful. The deeper meaning of it is felt throught the pages.
Well obviously this magical and beautiful. The deeper meaning of it is felt throught the pages.
Required Christmas reading for all
Read the book. Watch the movie. Read the book again. Feel the emotions and remember that magic. Share the magic with your kids. Don't ruin Santa for your kids. I intend to keep the fairy tale going as long as I can.
Read the book. Watch the movie. Read the book again. Feel the emotions and remember that magic. Share the magic with your kids. Don't ruin Santa for your kids. I intend to keep the fairy tale going as long as I can.
Originally posted on: http://thriftbookish.blogspot.com/2016/12/mini-review-polar-express-by-chris-van.html
2.5 stars ★ ★ (½)
[b:The Polar Express|420282|The Polar Express|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356707942s/420282.jpg|1045364] is a 32 page children's Christmas story picture book by [a:Chris Van Allsburg|9685|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1264399536p2/9685.jpg] who is also known for his popular book Jumanji.
The short story is about a boy who one late Christmas Eve who lay in his bed waiting to hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh but instead he hears the sounds of a mysterious of a train that appears in the front of his house. The conductor steps out to invite the boy stating that the train was ThePolar Express and headed to The North Pole so the boy takes his invitation and once aboard meets other children also delighted to be going to The North Pole to meet Santa Clause.
Once they arrive the conductor explains that Santa gathers every year in the center of the city in order to give one of the chosen children "the first gift of Christmas"
The Polar Express is a book that is well knowned for the filmed adaptation with the great Tom Hanks, which I watched numerous times throughout elementary school and enjoyed then. However, I can't recall ever reading it.. So I decided that this Holiday season I'll read it and see how the book version is.
I didn't love the book. I liked the illustrations but I don't think they would appeal to most children or kids, they are a bit.. hmm. What's the word? Dull? Dark? Mute? For younger people that is, for me I liked the illustrations especially considering they were illustrated by the author. I think that the illustrations combined with the shortness of the book wouldn't really hook younger audiences to make them want to come back to read the book again. Had the illustrations been lighter and more to do with Christmas opposed to the surrounding landscapes then maybe I would've rated it better. The writing was very simplistic as well.
The ending for me probably is the reason I didn't rate it lower stars:
“Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
The last page was probably the best part for me I appreciate the overall message it gives but the story itself and the writing just seems a bit flat to me.
Another con was that the synopsis in the book was basically the whole story wrapped up in about a paragraph so unless you want to be spoiled don't read the blurb!
I'll be rewatching the movie adaptation to see if I still enjoy it now that I am older, I remember it being more expanded and entertaining but we'll see.
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2.5 stars ★ ★ (½)
[b:The Polar Express|420282|The Polar Express|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356707942s/420282.jpg|1045364] is a 32 page children's Christmas story picture book by [a:Chris Van Allsburg|9685|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1264399536p2/9685.jpg] who is also known for his popular book Jumanji.
The short story is about a boy who one late Christmas Eve who lay in his bed waiting to hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh but instead he hears the sounds of a mysterious of a train that appears in the front of his house. The conductor steps out to invite the boy stating that the train was ThePolar Express and headed to The North Pole so the boy takes his invitation and once aboard meets other children also delighted to be going to The North Pole to meet Santa Clause.
Once they arrive the conductor explains that Santa gathers every year in the center of the city in order to give one of the chosen children "the first gift of Christmas"
The Polar Express is a book that is well knowned for the filmed adaptation with the great Tom Hanks, which I watched numerous times throughout elementary school and enjoyed then. However, I can't recall ever reading it.. So I decided that this Holiday season I'll read it and see how the book version is.
I didn't love the book. I liked the illustrations but I don't think they would appeal to most children or kids, they are a bit.. hmm. What's the word? Dull? Dark? Mute? For younger people that is, for me I liked the illustrations especially considering they were illustrated by the author. I think that the illustrations combined with the shortness of the book wouldn't really hook younger audiences to make them want to come back to read the book again. Had the illustrations been lighter and more to do with Christmas opposed to the surrounding landscapes then maybe I would've rated it better. The writing was very simplistic as well.
The ending for me probably is the reason I didn't rate it lower stars:
“Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
The last page was probably the best part for me I appreciate the overall message it gives but the story itself and the writing just seems a bit flat to me.
Another con was that the synopsis in the book was basically the whole story wrapped up in about a paragraph so unless you want to be spoiled don't read the blurb!
I'll be rewatching the movie adaptation to see if I still enjoy it now that I am older, I remember it being more expanded and entertaining but we'll see.
My Blog
Google+
Goodreads
Tumblr
Bloglovin
YouTube
Libib
This book was so so good!! The illustrations are fabulous, and it is such a fun story about believing in the spirit of Christmas. This would be a good book for students who are in the transition of not believing in Santa.
I absolutely love this movie. So, I decided to read the book and the illustrations are beautiful.
Nice artwork, but the book is SO short with very little detail when it comes to verbalizing what's in the pictures. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I like the movie better.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced