Trip To The North Pole (The Polar Express: The Movie) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "ON Christmas Eve, a Boy lay quietly in his bed..." (more)
Key Phrases: observation car, driver wheels, Lonely Boy, North Pole, Christmas Eve (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Straight from the silver screen comes the story of the Polar Express, with an eight-page color insert of movie scenes.

About the Author

Ellen Weiss was born December 7, 1953, in New York, N.Y. she is married Ken Goldstrom with whom she lives in Cambridge, Mass. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute. She has been a freelancer writer and illustrator since 1975 with numerous children's books to her credit.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061847790X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618477906
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #135,785 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Virginia, There Really is a Santa Claus, December 10, 2006

By	George Buttner "Agent0042" (Dayton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Said a kindly newspaper writer to a little girl who wasn't sure if Santa Claus was real. "The Polar Express" recalls the sentiment of this letter and in fine style, "Trip to the North Pole" takes readers on a memorable ride.

You know, one thing about trains --- It doesn't matter where they're going, what matters is deciding to get on. So says The Conductor, and in this case, readers will enjoy the chance to get back on board for another story based on "The Polar Express." This novelization takes what you like about the film and combines it with additional material from the original script. It even integrates a portion of the song "When Christmas Comes to Town" directly into the story.

Fans of the film who are old enough to read chapter novels will appreciate the extra attention to detail given in this story. Much of the dialogue is extended and there are also nice bonsues, such as the Hero Boy (who is referred to simply as "The Boy" in the text) shaking his head at a display he finds fake and extended ramblings from the Know-it-All Boy. If your kids enjoyed the film, but aren't yet old enough to read chapter boosk, you might consider reading this story aloud to them.

Normally, I find books based on movies that were based on books in the first place to often be so-so at best. But this is a Christmas treat for all fans of the film who truly believe.


This book includes fifteen still photos from the film, all in color.

4.0 out of 5 stars heart warming book version of movie for children, May 4, 2009

By	R. Bagula "Roger L. Bagula" (Lakeside, Ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not a believer, but this touched me.
I liked the movie and the book with pictures is faithful
to that source material.
If your kid doesn't believe in Santa Claus,
he might actually like this book too.

3.0 out of 5 stars HEARING THE BELL, December 21, 2008

By	Gale Finlayson "PLUME45" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This delightful Junior Novel reads swiftly and will enchant kids of all ages. In this adaptation from his original picture book Van Allsburg has expanded the challenges and dangers of the trip to the arctic north. There is so much action, energy and adrenaline that the three main children must be utterly exhausted before their actual arrival at North Pole City. Nor did the author ever clarify the identity of the mysterious King of Hobos who rides al fresco, but steps in to lend a hand now and then to our unlikely, unnamed protagonists. Readers must come to their own conclusions about his literaru purpose and secret mission.

The Boy wants to believe in Santa but is wavering in doubt on Christmas Eve. Then he is astounded to awake to the sound of an old-fashioned steam engine chugging along his street--stopping just to pick him up as a passenger in pajamas. The Girl is a sweet, compassionate child, who lacks confidence in her decisions. The Lonely Boy barely decides to get on board, hides in a back car sad and lonely, ashamed that Christmas is rarely celebrated at his house. Keeping the show running on time, if you please, is the firmly kind Conductor, who punches unusual words on their golden tickets. What will the kids learn when they observe Santa's Departure ceremony, after he hands out the First Gift of Christmas? Each of the four main juvenile characters has a personality-changing experience on that most magic night. If you listen carefully on Christmas morning, can you still hear the bell?