Fantasy - The Polar Express

Title: The Polar Express

Author: Chris Van Allsburg 

Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg 

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985

ISBN: 0-395-38949-6

Summary: Most of us know the story of the Polar Express. It is about a little boy who is losing his belief in Santa. He wakes up in the middle of the night to a train sitting on his street. After much, debate, he gets onto the train and goes for a magical journey with a lot of new friends to the North Pole. The little boy gets the special first gift of Christmas, which was one of Santa's bells. Only true believers could hear the bell ring. Even after the little boy's friends had all lost the sound of the bell, he could still hear it.

Evaluation: I love this Christmas story. There are definitely fantasy elements present in this book, as a magical train just appears to take the children to the North Pole to see Santa. Another form of fantasy is present in the whole aspect of being able to hear the bell.  I think that this story would be very entertaining for children, I even still love the movie as an adult. The illustrations in the book are also very life like and realistic, which can make the children feel like they are on the Polar Express, as well. This book allows children to open their imaginations while also enjoying the fun of Christmas.

Rating: I would give this book 5/5 stars.