Christmas is defined and surrounded by its many traditions. For those who celebrate the holiday, some traditions are unique to the family, but since its publication in 1985, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg has become a Christmas tradition to many, selling 7 million copies. 

Told in the first-person, it’s told as if the narrator is reflecting on the past experiences he’s had as a little boy. As a boy, the narrator finds a train on one Christmas Eve: the Polar Express. The Polar Express takes them all the way to the North Pole, taking them past picturesque landscapes on an equally dazzling train with all the warmth and sense of magic the children could ever want. When they finally reach the North Pole, Santa is there to grant them any wish the children desire. 

The Polar Express takes the children on a fantastical adventure, but the point of view that the story is told in contributes to a nostalgic feel. This makes the book appealing for both adult and child audiences, but younger audiences may feel less entertained as the book focuses more on wistful nostalgia and less on the magic of the adventure itself. Because of the short length of the story, while it doesn’t capture the entire story, the summary spoils most of the book’s contents. 

The Polar Express, despite the short story that it tells, can be a part of Christmas for younger and older readers alike. The illustrations mostly focus on the scenery that the children inside the Polar Express are able to see on their ride to the North Pole, but it creates a story full of magic, adventure, and nostalgia that captures the spirit of Christmas and the value of belief in Christmas magic.