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Summary: Check out the artistry, in word and picture
Review: I agree with the reviewers that this is a beautifully written story, but what first and foremost caught my attention is the AWESOME illustrations - which have remained in my memory longer than the details of the story.
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Summary: Beautiful, both in art and in spirit.
Review: This is a beautiful book written for those of us who still have faith that there is a Santa Claus. I highly reccomend it for people of all ages.
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Summary: A kid gets to pick the first gift of Chistmas
Review: On Christmas Eve a little boy wakes up to a big suprize. Hefinds a real train with millions of kids on it. He quickly gets inthe train. Then he finds out that the train is going to the North Pole. As they ride to the north pole the author gives the best details I've ever read. It was like I was in the train to. When they got to the north pole, they see trilions of elves. To the little boy's suprize he is picked by Santa to get the first present of Chirstmas. He choses a silver bell from a reindeer. As the train takes the kids home, the rest of the kids want to see the bell, but as he reaches for his pocket all he feels is a big hole. The bell went through the hole. On Christmas morning he finds a small package for him. It was the bell! His parents couldn't hear the bell. That meant they didn't belive in Santa.
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Summary: Very good family reading book- become a Christmas tradition
Review: It is a good book to read. Good for a family Christmas tradition. I see why it is a caldecott medal winner. It is a book for all ages. from: Christopher Samuel Cox
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Summary: Magic for calming Christmas-crazed children
Review: It was the week before Christmas and all through the school, over-excited children were bouncing off the walls. Then their teacher read The Polar Express, and they were hooked by the second page. By the end of the book, they were wide eyed and clamoring for their own bells to wear. I ran right out and bought it for my nephew and half of the adults on my Christmas list. I'm hoping to find it in my stocking next year. Keep listening for the bells!
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Summary: Excellent book for both the young and the old
Review: This book is especially well written as it appeals to all ages. This was special to me as it was read to my son by the school librarian when he was in 6th grade. At the end of the book, she asked who still believed and he was the only to raise his hand. He said, "some people do not have much money, but someone or some thing has to make Christmas happen. It's the spirit." The courage it took to say that, and Mr.Van Allsburg exemplifies this same courage in the book when the little boy asks only for the bell. This book is about the true meaning of Christmas and the faith of a young child who understood it. The message in this book is one that should not be lost on the old as well as the young. It is a wonderful book for kids at that age where they are beginning to doubt the magic of the holiday. My son is now 19 years old and I bought him the book for Christmas and I am ordering the gift set for myself. I hope to read it to my grandchildren someday, and pass on this valuable lesson that is taught in the book.
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Summary: A book brimming with Christmas spirit
Review: This book captures the Christmas spirit of children and makes it contagious! This is one of those books that is read and re-read every Christmas season and never grows old. The illustrations are warm and comforting and the audio casette that can come with it is outstanding. This book leaves you with a warm "loved" feeling in your heart and more often than not a tear or two in your eyes. It is as wonderful as a hug
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Summary: Francis P. Church (Yes Virginia . . .) has been equaled
Review: When asked to name the book I'd memorize if I ever found myself in a "Fahrenheit 451" type of world, I first considered "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," then I thought of "To Kill a Mockingbird," but the book I settled on was "The Polar Express." Santa Claus and the sleigh bell can be metaphors for so many things in our life. Like all true believers, the sleigh bell still rings true and clear for me.
(NOTE: Because I'm not much of an artist, if I were put in charge of remembering this book for future generations, I'd being doing the world a terrible disservice. The illustrations are wonderfully magical and draw you into the story in ways that go far beyond words.
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Summary: My FAVOROITE Book!
Review: "The Polar Express" I consider a nice book for all ages. The book is basicly about a boy and his magic Chirstmas experience. And I highly reccomend this book for ALL ages-
but mostly just people who have magic inside.
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Summary: Christmas books with meaning!
Review: Too many Christmas books just throw reindeer and presents and Santa and chimneys into a big pot, blend them together, and voila! another Christmas story. --- The nice thing about Polar Express is that it takes "BELIEF" and expands the word into the memorable ringing of a bell.
Eloquently expressing a concept is what makes Christmas stories memorable. Others like this would include "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote ("BONDING") as well as "The Blacksmith's Gift" by Dan T. Davis ("PURPOSE")
You can read "The Polar Express" at Christmas of course, but books like these are great anytime of the year.
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