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The Polar Express
The Polar Express is a 1985 children's book (ISBN 0-86264-143-8) written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, a former professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Polar Express has become an instant classic Christmas novel for children and Chris Van Allsburg the author and illustrator, has received awards such as the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 1986. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named the book one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by.

Plot
As the story starts off, a young boy, who used to adore Christmas, hears a train whistle roar. To his astonishment, he finds the train is waiting for him. He sees a conductor who then proceeds to look up at his window. He runs downstairs and goes outside. The conductor explains the train is called the Polar Express, and is journeying to the North Pole. The boy then boards the train, which is filled with chocolate and candy, as well as many other children in their pajamas.

As the train reaches the North Pole, the boy and the other children see thousands of Christmas elves gathered at the center of town waiting to send Santa Claus on his way. The boy is handpicked by Santa to receive the first gift of Christmas. Realizing that he could choose anything in the world, the boy asks for one bell from one of the reindeer's harnesses. The boy places the bell in the pocket of his robe and all the children watch as Santa takes off into the night for his annual deliveries.

Later, on the train ride home, the boy discovers that the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. The boy arrives home and goes to his bedroom as the train pulls away. On Christmas morning, his sister finds a small package for the boy under the tree, behind all of the other gifts. The boy opens the box and discovers that it is the bell, delivered by Santa who found it on the seat of his sleigh. When the boy rings the bell, both he and his sister marvel at the beautiful sound. His parents, however, are unable to hear the bell and remark that it must be broken. The book ends with the following line, which was also used in the film adaptation:

"At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."

Development
Chris Van Allsburg had a creative mind for drawing even as a child but went to college to study law. However, he found himself drawing more and eventually graduated from college with degree in sculpture and went to the Rhode Island School of Design to advance in his creativity. He made children's books that are popular for both parents and children to enjoy as a family. The Polar Express became a surprise to Van Allsburg and his supporters to see that it was on the New York Times bestseller list and had published 50,000 copies.

Chris Van Allsburg creative process on how he made "The Polar Express" was a step by step process in his head as to a boy visiting family, cannot sleep and it is a foggy night. Goes out and is in the woods and there would be a train waiting there. Van Allsburg asked himself, "Where would the train go" but thought deeper as to imagining it is winter and its December. Continuing his thought process he thought of the North Pole and this setting is in winter on Christmas eve and that is where his creative mindset asked himself "Where would a child want to go on Christmas eve?

Literary Significance
Chris Van Allsburg introduced the world to "The Polar Express" and ever since then it was a classic family book that many families enjoyed reading together. "Since it appeared,  The Polar Express  has migrated back onto The New York Times best-seller list every December. More than a million copies have been sold, and Houghton Mifflin, Van Allsburg's publisher, has printed more copies each year than the last to keep up with demand 550,000 for this Christmas season. However, like all children's literature and many novels the moment it is published, the process for readers taking an interest in it is very slow.

When Chris Van Allsburg published "The Polar Express" it was not considered the best seller at first stated by the New York Times. As said "The Polar Express (Houghton Mifflin), written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, was not a best seller when it was published in 1985. But the story, about a boy who boards a mysterious train bound for the North Pole, did make the list during each of the next three Christmas seasons. "

Description
For twenty years, The Polar Express has been a worldwide bestseller and Christmas classic. A perfect keepsake for any family, this beautiful edition can be handed down to each new generation of readers.

In 1986 The Polar Express was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal and hit the New York Times bestseller list. Since that time, more than six and a half million copies have been sold, and every December it faithfully reappears on national bestseller lists. In 2004, The Polar Express became a blockbuster holiday movie. The DVD release in 2005 assures, that like the book, the movie will become a holiday classic.

The book comes in 11.4 x 0.4 x 9 inches.

Adaptation
"The Polar Express" is a 2004 American computer animated musical fantasy film based on the 1985 children's book of the same title by Chris Van Allsburg. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film features human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique.

The film stars Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen, with Tom Hanks in six distinct roles. The film also included a performance by Tinashe at age 9, who later gained exposure as a pop singer in 2010, as the CGI-model for the female protagonist. Castle Rock Entertainment produced the film in association with Shangri-La Entertainment, ImageMovers, Playtone and Golden Mean, for Warner Bros. Pictures. The visual effects and performance capture were done at Sony Pictures Imageworks. The film was made at a budget of $165 million, a record breaking sum for an animated feature at the time. The studio first released the film in both conventional and IMAX 3D theaters November 10, 2004. It grossed $307 million worldwide.

The Polar Express is listed in the Guinness World Book of Records in 2006 as the first all-digital capture film. This is Castle Rock Entertainment's first animated film. The film also marks Michael Jeter's last acting role before his death, and the film was dedicated to his memory. The Polar Express is available on CD-ROM; inspired an orchestra score by Robert Kapilow, 1998; and was adapted by Robert Zemeckis and William Broyles, Jr., as a computer-animated movie of the same title featuring the voice of Tom Hanks, 2004

This One Summer
This One Summer is an award-winning graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki published by First Second in 2014. It is a coming of age story about two pre-teen friends, Rose and Windy, during a summer in Awago, a small beach town. Mariko Tamaki based the town of Awago on a place in Canada her family used to visit.

Plot
Rose has been coming to a cottage in Awago every summer and meeting her summer friend, Windy, as long as she can remember. Rose is about eighteen months older than Windy and is the narrator of the story. This summer, they start to explore their interest in boys and pay attention to the emotional lives of adults around them. Most of the adults and teenagers in the village (and in their families) are a "rogues' gallery of sad and burnt-out would-be role models." The story has a lush of art that invite us to learn and see about real life issues in a sensitive and hopeful manner.

Description
Jodi Chromey from Minnesota Reads called the art, which is done all in shades of blue, "gorgeous." The Horn Book Magazine states that Jillian Tamaki's "rigorously composed, kinetic drawings teem with psychological nuance and action." Kirkus Reviews wrote that "Jillian and Mariko skillfully portray the emotional ups and downs of a girl on the cusp of adolescence." This One Summer won both a 2015 Printz Honor and Caldecott Honor award. It also won the 2015 Eisner Award. According to The New York Times, the book is a graphic novel for fans of coming-of-age stories with more complex themes and is a lovely book.

The novel comes in paperback 6 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches

See also
 * Graphic Novel
 * Children's Literature
 * Picture Books

The Story of Mankind
The Story of Mankind was written and illustrated by Dutch-American journalist, professor, and author Hendrik Willem van Loon and published in 1921. In 1922, it was the first book to be awarded the Newbery Medal for an outstanding contribution to children's literature.

Written for his children (Hansje and Willem), The Story of Mankind tells in brief chapters the history of western civilization beginning with primitive man, covering the development of writing, art, and architecture, the rise of major religions, and the formation of the modern nation-state. Van Loon explains in the book how he selected what and what not to include by subjecting all materials to the question: Did the person or event in question perform an act without which the entire history of civilization would have been different? It also describes the foundations of Western thought and culture. It traces the development of art, music, literature, culture and civilization itself in the Western World. Van Loon was motivated to select the areas of history that he would describe by apparently asking himself whether this particular person or event changed the course of civilization or not.

Plot
"The Story of Mankind" by Hendrik Willem Van Loon is a tale of mankind's development from the origins of the planet from nothing leading up to the modern day science and technology. Written early in the 20th century, the information in the novel is clearly dated, but still manages to provide a base for young readers as to the origins of man. Engaging and entertaining, this book is a must read for any audience.

Description
After its first edition, Van Loon had another edition published later in the 1920s which included an extra essay, called "After Seven Years" about the effects of World War I. Since Van Loon's death in 1944, The Story of Mankind has been added to extensively by his son, Gerrit van Loon. The most recent version by John M. Merriman (1999) covers events up to the late 1990s (ISBN 9780871401755).

The book comes in paper back. 505 pgs with 280 pgs of drawings

Plot
"The Hidden Treasure of Glaston" is an exciting mystery thriller about a boy’s journey in becoming a man and his struggle to obtain the Holy Grail that Jesus used at the Last Supper. The Hidden Treasure of Glaston takes place in Britain in 1171, and the story is seen through the eyes of the main character Hugh, whose father abandoned him at a monastery when he was 14 years old during the rule of King Henry II. He seeks occupation at a local monastery to help the monks write their scriptures, where it’s their responsibility as the printing press was not yet invented. Hugh, the main character did not show much promise upon his arrival at the monastery at first, but makes immense changes as he transforms into a preserving and religious young man. It’s nearing the end of his journey that he shows the qualities and personal growth that make him seem more refined in all aspects of his personality. He shows little regard towards his well-being as he begins to travel knowing the dangers he would face. The journey unravels with him escaping from a mob that chased after him, finding his way through deserts and caves and making it to Glaston before he gets caught. Hugh and his friends try to uncover a treasure trove and with it a deeper mystery of the sort that could only occur in Glastonbury where Joseph of Arimithea was said to have lived out his last years. Despite all the difficulties he faces throughout the story, he shows perseverance. He becomes a new person through his adventures, having developed more strength, faith and courage.

Description
When Mrs. Jewett was doing a Master's degree in comparative literature at Columbia University she be­came deeply interested in the medieval period, a fasci­nation begun many years earlier after hearing a story about King Arthur. The Hidden Treasure of Glaston, a story of mystery set at Glastonbury Abbey around 1171 in the days of King Henry II of England, and Big John's Secret,were direct and satisfying results of this interest. The Hidden Treasure received a Newbery Honor in 1947.

Original copyright 1946 by Eleanore M. Jewett. Is a 5.5 x 8.5 in soft cover.352pgs

Characters

 * Hugh--age 14. the protagonist of the story, he was abandoned by his father he sought refuge in a local monastery.
 * Dickon--Hugh's loyal friend in all his endeavors.
 * Bleheris-- another one of Hugh's loyal friends, he is a bit on the strange side but still a dependable ally.
 * Joseph of Arimithea--a resident of Glastonbury, has lived out the rest of his days shrouded in mystery.