The Polar Express
What's This Book About
1986 Caldecott Medal Winner A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . . . Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish. For millions of readers worldwide, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved classic. In this 30th anniversary edition, the inimitable artistry of Chris Van Allsburg is revealed in a never-before-seen fashion, with a new jacket design and expanded interior layout. Includes author’s note, downloadable audio read by Liam Neeson, and golden “All Aboard” ornament.
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For more than 30 years this magical Christmas book has been delighting readers and believers and has become a traditional element of our holiday season. Be careful not to confuse the book with the more recent movie! The story, featuring Chris Van Allsburgh's lovely pencil illustrations in a muted palette of colors, is perfectly paced. The poetic and descriptive text is a pleasure to read--or listen to, "We traveled through cold, dark forests, where lean wolves roamed and white-tailed rabbits hid from our train as it thundered through the quiet wilderness." (Both Liam Neeson and John Hurt have made recordings.) The Polar Express celebrates belief in the magic of Christmas; our holiday season would not be complete without it!
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The Creative Behind the Book
Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature. In 1982, Jumanji was nominated for a National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg is a former instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. Visit him at chrisvanallsburg.com.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780544580145
- Publication Date
- September 15, 2015
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Page Count
- 32
- Audience
- Picture
- Reading Age
- 5 - 8 years
- Est. Lexile® Level
- ~580L
- Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
- ~O
- ATOS® Book Level
- 3.8
- Accelerated Reader® Points
- 0.5
- Accelerated Reader Quiz
- 5240
- Accelerated Reader Interest Level
- LG
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