The Polar Express
By Mary Dixon Weidler,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
One of the most beautiful Christmas books.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
good book
Report this review
its grate
Report this review
What's the Story?
Did you hear that sleigh bell? One young boy, whose friends are beginning to doubt Santa's existence, stays awake listening for that telltale jingle to validate his faith. What he hears instead is the toot of a train horn, signaling the beginning of one of the most beautiful Christmas books of all time.
Is It Any Good?
Children will listen intently to every word and study every picture as this beautiful and mysterious story unfolds. This tale's appeal traverses all age groups because it avoids the cuteness of many Santa stories and instead deals with deep magic. By the end of the story, the boy realizes that many people outgrow their belief in Santa, as one by one his friends and family stop hearing the bell. His own belief, however, rings true to the end.
The illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg, a sculptor by training, invite readers to crawl into each scene. The night is seen in shades of darkness. Van Allsburg uses surprising perspectives on many pages, such as the view from below the train bridge as the Express glides toward the North Pole.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about faith. Why can the boy and his sister hear the bell but the adults can't? Have you ever believed something other people told you wasn't true? Why did you continue to believe? How did you feel?
Book Details
- Author: Chris Van Allsburg
- Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg
- Genre: Holiday
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Great Boy Role Models , Holidays , Trains
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
- Publication date: October 28, 1985
- Number of pages: 29
- Award: Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated: October 18, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate