What Parents Should Know
Lush drawings of the winter world seen through the eyes of a
child complement the quietly elegant story.
Common Sense Media Review
A boy listens for the sounds of Santa's sleigh bells but
instead hears the hissing steam and squeaking metal of a train
pulling into the front yard. Children, too, will listen
intently to every word and study every picture as this
beautiful and mysterious story unfolds.
This tale's appeal traverses all age groups because it avoids the cuteness of many Santa stories and instead deals with deep magic. By the end of the story, the boy realizes that many people outgrow their belief in Santa, as one by one his friends and family stop hearing the bell. His own belief, however, rings true to the end.
The illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg, a sculptor by training, invite readers to crawl into each scene. The night is seen in shades of darkness. Van Allsburg uses surprising perspectives on many pages, like the view from below the train bridge as the Express glides toward the North Pole.
Another book that tackles Christmas credibility is Peter Collington's On Christmas Eve. Among Van Allsburg's many other excellent books are award-winners Jumanji and The Garden of Abdul Gasazi.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
