The Polar Express

Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

     The Polar Express is one of my all time favorite picture books.  Every Christmas, my mother would read this picture book to my sisters and I and it was something that I always looked forward to.  This children's book won a Caldecott Medal in 1986. 
    In this award winning book, the character of a young man tells the story of when he was younger how his belief in Santa came to real life on Christmas Eve. His friends would tell him that there wasn't a Santa, but he still believed in him. He knew Santa was real when the Polar Express took him to the North Pole!  The little boy wanted a small gift from the North Pole and that was a bell on Santa's sleigh. 
     Not only the story is great but with detailed and colorful illustrations draws readers into the Christmas spirit.  The illustrations make everyone feel as if they are in the story!  Aside from the illustrations, there are many activites teachers can implement using this children's book.  One great skill to go over with students is imagery and metaphor/similes throughout the book.  As a whole group, identify the examples of imagery Van Allsburg uses in his book.  Also, have students identify the metaphors and similes throughout the story.