Additional Information:
- Hardcover
- Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
- Awards: Caldecott Medal
Synopsis: The Polar Express is a well known Christmas story that follows a young boy as he is whisked away on Christmas Eve night by the Polar Express, a train that travels straight to the North Pole. The boy finds himself on the train with dozens of other young children in their pajamas. When they arrive at the North Pole, the boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. He asks for a bell from Santa's sleigh, but to the boy's disappointment, it falls through a hole in the pocket of his robe. He is dejected as he travels home on the Polar Express and bids the conductor farewell. Mysteriously the next morning, there is a small box addressed to the boy that contains the bell that fell through his pocket as well as a handwritten note from Santa himself. The boy rings the bell, but he and his sister Sarah are the only ones who hear it ring. As years pass, many children no longer hear the ringing of the bell, but the boy, along with others who believe, will always hear its soft ring.
Book Notes: Chris Van Allsburg both writes and illustrates this dazzling Christmas picture book, which has now become a major motion picture. The illustrations contain soft, dark colors that bespeak a chilly winter's night. The language is captivating and excellent for reading aloud to children of any age. This story can be incorporated in the classroom around Christmas time, especially if the class is studying Chris Van Allsburg.
Book Critique: The Polar Express is a captivating story that has become a Christmas favorite. It has beautifully realistic illustrations that create a soft look to match the mysterious story. It is a wonderful read aloud book for any elementary grade and is sure to get children excited around the holidays.
Classroom Activities: This book can either be used as part of an author study on Christ Van Allsburg or as an activity as the year approaches Christmas. It can be used as a read aloud or shared reading activity. There is a also a movie made from the book that can be shown in the classroom as a follow up activity used to teach comparing and contrasting. Below are links to more classroom ideas.
Lessons and activities: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/Take-the-Polar-Express-to-Learning.shtml
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literature_guides/polarexpress.html
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/polar.shtml
Helpful Links:
Author/Illustrator website: http://hmhbooks.com/chrisvanallsburg/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daUftfgKqLQ
Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex_S7iOdTGg
Book Critique: The Polar Express is a captivating story that has become a Christmas favorite. It has beautifully realistic illustrations that create a soft look to match the mysterious story. It is a wonderful read aloud book for any elementary grade and is sure to get children excited around the holidays.
Classroom Activities: This book can either be used as part of an author study on Christ Van Allsburg or as an activity as the year approaches Christmas. It can be used as a read aloud or shared reading activity. There is a also a movie made from the book that can be shown in the classroom as a follow up activity used to teach comparing and contrasting. Below are links to more classroom ideas.
Lessons and activities: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/Take-the-Polar-Express-to-Learning.shtml
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literature_guides/polarexpress.html
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/polar.shtml
Helpful Links:
Author/Illustrator website: http://hmhbooks.com/chrisvanallsburg/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daUftfgKqLQ
Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex_S7iOdTGg
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