Dylan Evans Children's Book- The Polar Express

The Polar Express, written in 1985, is a timeless classic children's Christmas book. It was written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. The book focuses on a young boy who seems to have lost the spirit of Christmas. This all changes however, on Christmas Eve when he hears the sound of a train outside his window. From here on he boards the train to take him to North Pole, along with many other young people, to meet Santa Claus. Once at the North Pole the young boy finds out that it is indeed him who gets to choose and have the first present of Christmas. The young boy elects to choose the bell off a reindeer's collar and once received, securely places it back in his pocket. On the way home the boy realises there is a hole in his pocket and therefore loses the bell. He goes to sleep that night to wake up in the morning and find the bell waiting for him under the Christmas tree. It was Santa Claus who delivered it. It was later said that whoever can hear the bell are the ones who truly believe in Christmas.

This book by Van Allsburg is well structured and written, focusing on a beginning (boy not believing in Christmas), middle (boy gaining reindeer's bell, then losing it) and ending (finding the bell and believing in Christmas again). The illustrations are quite well done and really add to the magical feel of the book.

Inside a classroom this book can be used as a part of a lead up to Christmas activities. The book can be used as a focal point, then the student's can draw their own version of the Polar Express.