The Polar Express

    I get choked up every year when I read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg to my preschool students on the last day before we go on holiday break. So far, no one has told me that I cannot read a book that so blatantly celebrates Santa Claus and Christmas. I am careful to teach about all celebrations of all kinds of religious and ethnic traditions throughout my school year. 
     Anyhow, back to The Polar Express. The day before the holiday break is always "Pajama Day." Everyone, kids and staff, come in their Pj's. We make popcorn (see earlier blog on pressure experiments) and watch movies of Scholastic Books form authors we have studied in the fall. 
     Then, we play a little, like a regular preschool day. And, finally, we gather for the story. Before I read, and unknown to the kids, I have prepared really thick, warm, hot cocoa. It is waiting on a tray out of sight. I have also prepared one silver bell which is on two twisted, sparkly, red and green pipe cleaners in the shape of a circle. Those are hidden next to me in a bag. When I start the story we keep the lights low. 
     As I begin reading, and the boy in talking about how he is in his pajamas when the Polar Express arrived, I notice out loud, "Wow, we're all in our pajamas, just like the kids in the book." Next, the cocoa that is as rich as melted chocolate bars is served on the train in the book, and, voila!, my assistants begin serving the kids their hot cocoa. I love watching their faces light up. 
     When Santa appears in the book, I use my best and deepest voice for him. I add all of these extra, "Ho, Ho's" as he talks, even though they are not in the text of the book. I whisper an aside to the kids that Santa cannot not help but laugh while he talks...he really is that jolly. 
     The crux of the story is that the boy who is the narrator gets to choose the first gift of Christmas and he chooses one of the silver bells from one of Santa's reindeer's harnesses. Then, when Santa takes off and the kids all board the Polar Express to go back home, the boy realizes he lost the bell through of hole in his pocket. However, on Christmas morning, when he is opening presents, he finds a small package under the tree. It is the bell and there is a note from, "Mr. C." who said he found it on the seat of his sleigh. 
According to the boy and his sister, the bell made the most beautiful ringing sound when they shook it. But, their parents thought the bell was broken. They couldn't hear the sound at all. The boy had come to learn that only those who truly believe in the magic of Christmas can hear the bell. 
    Then, as I finish the story, I ask the kids if they believe. And, then I pass out the bells and they test them to see if they can hear the bells ringing. It really does choke me up every time. 
     What is really amazing is that I am not a big celebrator of the holidays and Christmas. But, there is something about this story that gets me every time I read it to a group of kids. I think it has to do with that they are still in that part of their lives where they can believe in magic and anything is possible. I love their magical thinking and imagination and I like when I am able to bring that alive, if even just a little bit. And, the part of Christmas I do like is the part that we spend a month or so making an extra effort to be a little nicer to each other and to go a little out of our way to think about what others need.