Recommended Age: 4+
Format: Hardcover
Awards: Caldecott Medal Winner
This book tells the story of a little boy who lays in bed on Christmas Eve, listening to hear Santa's sleigh. Instead he hears the approach of a steam engine, and as he goes outside to investigate, he learns the train is going to the North Pole. On the train the children aboard get treats. The go to the North Pole to see Santa off on his journey to deliver toys. The little boy is lucky enough to get the first gift from Santa for Christmas. He gets the one thing he wanted that most, a sleigh bell from one of Santa's reindeer. Although he loses it on the train Santa puts it under his Christmas tree on Christmas morning. His sister and him love the sound it makes, but his parents think it's broken. Hearing the bell is determined by whether or not you truly believe Santa exists. As he grows up the boy can still hear it, but his friends and sister stop hearing it. The illustrations seem to show the most of the pictures lit by outside light. The illustrations are beautiful to look at and children will love to see them, especially Santa. This is a fantastic book to read to 4 year olds and up for story time around Christmas time. Children will be enthralled in this story and the magic of Christmas it seems to have within it. Just as a warning it does mention that his friends do not believe in Santa and do not think he is real, but I think that is negated by the fact that the boy meets Santa in the book. This is suitable for preschoolers and older mainly due to the length of the text.
Author's Website: http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/flash.html
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