The Polar Express (original 1985; edition 1985)

by Chris Van Allsburg

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A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.

▾Book information

Member:	MRosenfeld
Title:	The Polar Express
Authors:	Chris Van Allsburg
Info:	Houghton Mifflin (1985), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	None

Work Information

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)

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Quoting from the book on the verso page, "Summary: A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus." This book was written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It won the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children for year it was published.

uufnn | Feb 24, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-4 Awards/Honors: Caldecott Medal

malquistamber | Dec 7, 2023 |

This book. I love The Polar Express so much, even now as an adult. The full page artwork is stunning, the story very moving and unique, and it is just plain fun. I also love that Liam Neeson has done a reading of the story, it sounds perfect for that feeling of wonder you have as a kid waking up on Christmas morning. Being able to hear Santa on the rooftop has long been a part of the legend, but this book takes the idea of "hearing" is believing, one step farther. (

)

rianainthestacks | Nov 5, 2023 |

This story is a beautiful tale of imagination and childlike wonder. A little boy is taken on a wild christmas journey fueled by joy and belief in the Christmas spirit. (

)

cieraj25 | Oct 30, 2023 |

Independent Reading Level: 2nd Grade
Awards/Honors: Caldecott Medal (

)

Taylorsapp | May 4, 2023 |

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▾Published reviews

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thingScore 100

Mr. Van Allsburg works effectively combining the sinister and the sentimental, but it would take a poet-sociologist to explain precisely why these dark, moody sculptural pastels somehow evoke feelings of glad tidings and joy.

added by Shortride | editThe New York Times, Christopher Lehman-Haupt (Dec 2, 1985)

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (8 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Chris Van Allsburg	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Neeson, Liam	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Is contained in

The Hutchinson Treasury of Children's Literature by Alison Sage

Has the adaptation

The Polar Express [2004 film] by Robert Zemeckis

Is parodied in

The Antarctic Express by Kenneth Hite

Inspired

The Polar Express: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Alan Silvestri

Has as a teacher's guide

The Polar Express - Teacher Guide by Novel Units, Inc. by Novel Units

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Audie Award (Finalist – Package Design – 2001)

Audie Award (Finalist – Children's Titles For Ages 0-7 – 2001)

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Honor – Picture Book – 1986)

Buckaroo Book Award (Nominee – 1999)

Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Winner – Grades K-2 – 1991)

Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee – Grades K-2 – 1989)

Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee – Grades K-2 – 1987)

Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner – 1986)

Flicker Tale Award (Nominee – Picture Books – 1990)

Flicker Tale Award (Nominee – Picture Books – 1988)

Golden Archer Award (Winner – Little Archer Award – 1986)

Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee – 1989)

Great Lakes Great Books Award (Winner – Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade – 1989)

Great Lakes Great Books Award (Winner – Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade – 1991)

A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1986)

IBBY Honour Book (Spanish Translation – 1990)

Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee – Grades K-3 – 1987)

Nevada Young Readers' Award (Nominee – Primary/Picture Book – 1988)

New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books (1985)

Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee – 1988)

Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award (Nominee – 1988)

Distinctions

New York Times bestseller (Fiction – 1985)

Notable Lists

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up (2009.0316, 2009, Ages 5↑)

CCBC Choices (Picture Books – 1985)

Library of Congress Children's Literature Center Children's Books (1986)

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

The Polar Express

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

Related movies

The Polar Express (2004 | IMDb)

Epigraph

Dedication

To Karen

First words

On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed.

Quotations

"Soon there were no more lights to be seen. 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."

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.