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Original Essays | October 17, 2009

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My Catholic friend tilted her teacup like a fortune-teller. "You know," she said, "I think people who don't have God in their lives are like people... Continue »
  1. $17.50 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express Cover

ISBN13: 9780395389492
ISBN10: 0395389496
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

Staff Pick

Could a bookseller's favorite book really be a children's Christmas picture book? I am often asked to name my favorite book — an impossible question to answer, really — and I find myself mentioning The Polar Express time and again (not without a small amount of embarrassment — aren't I supposed to come up something just a bit more erudite?). The Polar Express does exactly what every good book should do — it draws you in from the very first, pulls you along, and leaves you sad to turn the final page. But it will also give you a renewed appreciation for the importance of wonder and magic in our daily world. Chris Van Allsburg's mysterious yet enchanting illustrations will captivate you — with each reading I find myself poring over every page, exploring newfound details.
Recommended by Emily, Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Since its publication in 1985, Chris Van Allsburg's holiday classic has sold more than four million copies and has come to signify the essential spirit of Christmas for countless readers. Now, in celebration of its fifteenth anniversary, THE POLAR EXPRESS is available in a deluxe gift set, beautifully packaged and featuring a dramatic new reading of the timeless tale. The set includes a hardcover copy of the Caldecott Award–winning book, recordings of the story on both cassette and compact disc, and a commemorative ornament designed by Chris Van Allsburg. Readers young and old are sure to treasure this inspiring book, which brings to life the magic of Christmas for all who believe.

Review:

"[T]he pictures may be the best he's done. There is nothing cute here, rather there is something I would have to call majestic." Noel Perrin, The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"The telling is straight, thoughtfully clean-cut and all the more mysterious for its naive directness....The full-page images are theatrically lit....Van Allsburg's express train is one in which many of us wish to believe." School Library Journal

Synopsis:

For twenty-five years, The Polar Express has been a treasured holiday classic. To commemorate this special anniversary, a lavish gift edition has been created. The set includes a silver foil border, a CD audio recording read by Liam Neeson, a note from Chris Van Allsburg, and a silvery keepsake All Aboard ornament.

Awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1986, The Polar Express has sold more than 7 million copies, become a classic holiday movie, and been translated into stage productions that take place across the United States during the holiday season.

Synopsis:

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. Winner of the1986 Caldecott Medal.

About the Author

Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 1982, Jumanji won the National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg was formerly an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
brunettegal418, January 2, 2008 (view all comments by brunettegal418)
This wonderful children's book captures the true meaning of innocent childhood, love, and the act of believing. This is a must read for people of all ages who want a book with deliciously drawn pictures, simple yet thought provoking words, and the sweet message of loving and believing. Chris Van Allsburg has written a true masterpeice!
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(8 of 17 readers found this comment helpful)

Product Details

ISBN:
9780395389492
performance Read:
Van Allsburg, Chris
production Music:
Michael Moss.
Illustrator:
Van Allsburg, Chris
Author:
Allsburg, Chris Van
Author:
Neeson, Liam
Author:
Van Allsburg, Chris
Author:
Hurt, William
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
Location:
Boston
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
Children's fiction
Subject:
Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks
Subject:
Classics
Subject:
Holidays & Festivals - Christmas
Subject:
Christmas
Subject:
Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title
Subject:
Santa claus
Subject:
North pole
Subject:
Transportation - General
Subject:
Transportation - Railroads & Trains
Subject:
Transportation - Trains
Subject:
Christmas stories
Subject:
Christmas -- Fiction.
Subject:
North Pole Fiction.
Subject:
Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas
Subject:
Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas & Advent
Copyright:
Edition Number:
revised
Edition Description:
113
Series Volume:
16
Publication Date:
October 28, 1985
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
Children/juvenile
Language:
English
Illustrations:
, Y
Pages:
32
Dimensions:
924x1154x51 119
Children's Book Type:
Picture / Wordless
Media Run Time:
002230
Age Level:
04-08
Notes:

carton=34

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