The Polar Express Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

 The Polar Express

Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

Grades: K-2nd

Awards: 

• Caldecott Medal (1986)

• Kentucky Bluegrass Award (1987)

• Buckeye Children's Book Award for K-2 (1991)

• Nevada Young Readers' Award for Primary Category/Picture Book Category (1988)

• Little Archer Award (1986)

• Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nominee for Picture Book - Honor Book (1986)

Late one Christmas Eve, a boy boards a mysterious train that appears out of nowhere in the middle of the night. The train is The Polar Express and is bound for the North Pole. Ignoring the demands of stranger-danger, the boy climbs aboard, finding the car filled with other youngsters. They are treated to goodies while en route to the north pole.  At the North Pole they are to witness the ritual of Santa giving the first gift of Christmas. Santa offers the boy any gift he desires. The boy asks for one bell from the harness of a reindeer. The bell is lost on the train ride home. On Christmas morning, the boy finds the bell under the tree. The boy's mother admires the bell, but laments that it is broken. The boy can hear the bell, for you see, only believers can hear the sound of Santa's bell.