Review: The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition by Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition by Chris Van Allsburg.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $19.99
ISBN-13: 9780544580145

Review: Imagine being on a train in the middle of the night, and then all of a sudden you see lights, lots of them. Now imagine knowing that you will meet Santa Claus. You would want to explore, right? Well those are the exact thoughts that are going through Hero Boy and Hero GirlÕs minds in The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

On Christmas Eve select children get the chance to see Santa Claus at the North Pole. two of the kids get lost in the North Pole they explore and see many things you wouldnÕt usually see. They see elves, some flying reindeer, and the elvesÕ homes. Hero Boy, towards the end of the book, gets to meet Santa Claus in person. He returns home on Christmas Day, and one of the presents he opens is a bell from SantaÕs sleigh. He now strongly believes in Santa and his elves.

The Polar Express is intended for ages 4-7, however this book can be read by anyone of any age. Although kids ages 4-7 would need help to read the book, it is children's fiction, so they would enjoy it most. For example the words outstretched and barren are words they wouldnÕt understand. The main characters in the book are Hero girl, Hero boy, and Billy. Together they go throughout the North Pole and see things you wouldnÕt normally see everyday, like elves and Santa Claus. The art in the book is very detailed and nicely done. However a younger child might think the paintings are a little busy, and because the book is during the night, the pictures are a little dark. These things might make the book seem a little overwhelming for them. Overall I do very much think that all ages would take pleasure in The Polar Express, it is a very well written book, and the pictures are fantastic.

Review written by Mekenna (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition for this review.

Have you read The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition? How would you rate it?