The Polar Express
Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Recommended for all who believe…

“On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed.  I did not rustle the sheets.  I breathed slowly and silently.  I was listening for a sound – a sound a friend had told me I’d never hear – the ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh.”  And so begins this memorable Christmas story of a boy who became a true believer in the magic of Santa Claus and all he represents.  As the youngster lays quietly in his bed, he hears the sound of a train that has stopped outside of his home.  As he makes his way outside, still in his pyjamas, the conductor beckons for the boy to board his train, The Polar Express.  He quickly discovers the train is full of other children who are singing Christmas carols and enjoying sweet treats.  The train makes its way over mountains, through valleys and even over the Great Polar Ice Cap until finally the conductor announces that the North Pole is in sight.

But where are the elves?  The children are curious but quickly find the elves scurrying about in the center of the city along with the excited reindeer and their silver sleigh bells making magical sounds.  It was time for Santa Claus to give the first gift of Christmas.  Who will be the lucky recipient of this gift?  Santa selects the young narrator and asks him what he would like for Christmas.  And although he knew he could ask for anything in the world, he simply asked for one of the reindeer’s bells (perhaps as proof that there really is a Santa).  Santa obliged and had one of the elves cut a bell.  Sadly, on the long journey home, the boy loses the bell.  On Christmas morning, he wakes to find all kinds of gifts.  However he is still sad that he does not have the bell until his sister hand him one last gift that was hidden behind the tree.

This Caldecott-winning story is a must-have for all families at Christmas time.  This 25th Anniversary Edition includes a CD with the story narrated by Liam Neeson and a keepsake tree ornament.