Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Houghton Mifflin and 32 pages
Awards or honors received: Caldecott Medal
Summary: This book takes you on an amazing journey with words and illustrations. The story is about a little boy who is told that Santa does not exist. On Christmas Eve he is awaken by a loud train and he gets on. He and other children journey to the North Pole. After his journey to the North Pole and receiving the first present from Santa he gets back on the train and goes home. The little boy learns that you have to believe in Christmas and that you have to hear the spirit because the spirit of Santa is in your heart.
Personal rating and reason for rating: **** Great! – I just love this book. The students really enjoy this Christmas book. I feel that is a great book because it shows how you just believe in something and that something becomes real to you.
Reading level: 3.8
Interest level: K-3 (this book is great for primary grades)
Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum):
This book could be used during Christmas time. This would be a wonderful book to have the students write about their Christmas traditions. After doing this activity students could discuss different religious beliefs in the classroom.
As a fun activity students could watch the movie. After the movie students could compare the book to the movies using a Venn Diagram.
Potential Problems or Difficulties: If you have students with different religious beliefs.
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I read the story and then we watch the movie a couple days later. The day that we watch the movie I have the children wear their PJ's to school. We drink hot chocolate and eat cookies while we watch the movie. I also give each child a bell necklace that rings. They really love it, especially after learning why they can hear it ring.
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