Author: - Chris Van Allsburg
Title: - The Polar Express
Illustrator: - Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: - Houghton Mifflin Company
Year: - 1985
Format: - audio book (read along)
Genre: - Picture Storybook
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Elementary
Topics: - Caldecott Medal, Christmas, train, the North Pole, bells, Santa
Summary: - A boy goes on a magical adventure on the Polar Express to the North Pole with many other children. Santa selects the boy to receive the first gift of Christmas. Knowing he could have anything he wanted, the boy chooses to have a bell from a reindeer’s harness. However, later that night on the way home, the boy realizes that he lost the bell through a hole in his pocket. The next morning, the boy receives a package from “Mr. C.” which contains the silver bell that the boy thought he had lost for good!
Extension Activity: - After reading the book, students will watch the movie. While watching (and finishing after the movie is done,) students will make a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the book and the movie.
-Students will write a description of the best gift they have ever received. The gift could be from Christmas, a birthday, or any other holiday or occasion. The students will draw a picture of the gift to accompany their written explanations.
