The Polar Express: Picture Book and CD

Na

Although meant for children, my five year old autistic grandson really loved this book being read to him.The pictures are superb and it's an easy read for those of us who don't read quite as fast as we possibly should. I would recon this book is aimed at children of about nine or older.

Great book for kids.

What a beautifully illustrated book. The images don't justify the quality of the paper and drawings.

My son loves this book.

Anyone expecting this book to be the story of the film will be slightly disappointed, the film builds on the bones of the story and expands it, slightly losing the simplicity along the way. Both book and story have the same values though - BELIEF!The story bridges that gap in childhood that comes when the realisation dawns that Father Christmas is not a real person, but tells that there is still something to believe in your heart. In this beautifully illustrated book, the boy has a huge adventure on Christmas eve, travelling to the North Pole on a vast Steam Train, journeying through the frozen wastes to Santa's home where the elves are preparing his sleigh. The boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas and, not wishing to be greedy, chooses a silver bell from the reindeer harness, which slips through a hole in his pocket and is lost.It would spoil the story to tell the outcome - you will have to read it yourself!! The verson I bought also has a CD with the story read by Liam Neeson, twice. The first part straightforwardly, in the second a silver bell rings when it is time to turn the page and so a child who canot read can enjoy the magnificent pictures in context. I cannot recommend this book too highly for all believers and almost believers. As a companion to the DVD it is perfect.

My then three-year-old son fell in love with the film last Christmas and after a viewing break of ten and a bit months, has become quite obsessed with it this year. I decided to get him the book, half expecting him to disregard it for not being EXACTLY like the film (the content seems to me to be the same, but there are aspects - such as the hot chocolate song - which are absent, if you get my meaning) but he appears to love it in it's own right. Much of the language is exactly as it is in the film and the illustrations are lovely. It's a relatively long story, which for some four-year-olds may not be for them, but mine is captivated by the story - and all things train (but only STEAM train!).

Lovely images…