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jokoro 's review for:
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Awards: The Caldecott 1986
Plot:
As a young boy strains to hear the bells on Santa’s Sleigh from his bed, instead he hears the sound of a train whistle. Going outside he finds it is the Polar Express. The conductor invites him aboard and they are off. On board were many other children and they are offered goodies and treats while they watch wintery scenes whisk by on their way to the North Pole. When they get to the North Pole the city is empty for all the elves have gathered in the main square waiting for the children. In the center are Santa and his sleigh where he will chose a child to give the first gift of Christmas.
To the young boy’s surprise Santa choses him. Humbly he asks only for a bell on Santa’s sleigh and his request is granted. An elf cuts off one of the bells from the reindeer and gives it to the boy. Tragically, when the other children ask to see the bell he finds that he has lost the bell through a hole in his robe pocket. All is not lost, however, for under the tree, Christmas morning, he finds the bell with a note from Santa saying to fix the hole in his pocket. Only he and his sister are able to hear the bell ring because they are true believers and as he grows up and grows old he is the only one who never loses the ability to hear the bell ring.
Review:
There is no time of year I love better than Christmas and “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allen encapsulates all the feelings of Christmas. The story takes you on a magical journey to a place all children would love to visit, and takes you there in luxury. The Polar Express takes you through beautiful landscapes and eerie winter scenes in comfort and warmth with hot chocolate (my favorite) and candy. Then when we reach the North Pole, not only do we get to meet Santa, but he chooses us to receive the first gift of Christmas. When the gift is lost and all hope is gone it is found again under the Christmas tree. This is the fantasy of any child who loves Santa and it is beautifully written.
Chris Van Allen is a very talented multi-award winning author and he really does bring the Christmas spirit to life in “The Polar Express.” I love that only a true believer in Santa Clause can hear the bell ring, and I love that he never stops believing. That he never loses that childhood innocence that lets him believe. Sometimes children can be in such a hurry to grow up that they lose the belief in extraordinary things.
As beautiful as the story is what really brings everything together is the illustrations. The pictures are all large covering two pages and are in a beautiful style that is both very real, dreamlike and a little old fashioned. For instance his bedroom and the Christmas tree scenes show a house with simple furnishings and older toys. I also like that there are children from all nationalities on the train emphasizing that Santa visits boys and girls all over the world.
This book brings Christmas magic and mystery to life.
Plot:
As a young boy strains to hear the bells on Santa’s Sleigh from his bed, instead he hears the sound of a train whistle. Going outside he finds it is the Polar Express. The conductor invites him aboard and they are off. On board were many other children and they are offered goodies and treats while they watch wintery scenes whisk by on their way to the North Pole. When they get to the North Pole the city is empty for all the elves have gathered in the main square waiting for the children. In the center are Santa and his sleigh where he will chose a child to give the first gift of Christmas.
To the young boy’s surprise Santa choses him. Humbly he asks only for a bell on Santa’s sleigh and his request is granted. An elf cuts off one of the bells from the reindeer and gives it to the boy. Tragically, when the other children ask to see the bell he finds that he has lost the bell through a hole in his robe pocket. All is not lost, however, for under the tree, Christmas morning, he finds the bell with a note from Santa saying to fix the hole in his pocket. Only he and his sister are able to hear the bell ring because they are true believers and as he grows up and grows old he is the only one who never loses the ability to hear the bell ring.
Review:
There is no time of year I love better than Christmas and “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allen encapsulates all the feelings of Christmas. The story takes you on a magical journey to a place all children would love to visit, and takes you there in luxury. The Polar Express takes you through beautiful landscapes and eerie winter scenes in comfort and warmth with hot chocolate (my favorite) and candy. Then when we reach the North Pole, not only do we get to meet Santa, but he chooses us to receive the first gift of Christmas. When the gift is lost and all hope is gone it is found again under the Christmas tree. This is the fantasy of any child who loves Santa and it is beautifully written.
Chris Van Allen is a very talented multi-award winning author and he really does bring the Christmas spirit to life in “The Polar Express.” I love that only a true believer in Santa Clause can hear the bell ring, and I love that he never stops believing. That he never loses that childhood innocence that lets him believe. Sometimes children can be in such a hurry to grow up that they lose the belief in extraordinary things.
As beautiful as the story is what really brings everything together is the illustrations. The pictures are all large covering two pages and are in a beautiful style that is both very real, dreamlike and a little old fashioned. For instance his bedroom and the Christmas tree scenes show a house with simple furnishings and older toys. I also like that there are children from all nationalities on the train emphasizing that Santa visits boys and girls all over the world.
This book brings Christmas magic and mystery to life.