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Quick answer: If you loved The Polar Express, try Jumanji, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Snowman and Owl Moon. Each one is a magical holiday or winter picture book with wonder, belief and beautiful illustrations.
Chris Van Allsburg's 1985 Caldecott Medal winner follows a boy who, on Christmas Eve, boards a mysterious train called the Polar Express. It carries children through dark forests and over mountains to the North Pole, where Santa chooses the boy to receive the first gift of Christmas: a silver bell from a reindeer's harness. Only those who truly believe can hear it ring. Readers love its glowing paintings and its sense of wonder. These books share its magic and its seasonal joy.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg | 5-9 | readers who want more Van Allsburg |
| The Mysteries of Harris Burdick | Chris Van Allsburg | 8+ | readers who like mysterious pictures |
| The Night Before Christmas | Clement C. Moore | 3-8 | readers who want the classic poem |
| How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | Dr. Seuss | 3-8 | readers who like holiday humor |
| The Snowman | Raymond Briggs | 3-7 | readers who like wordless magic |
| Owl Moon | Jane Yolen | 4-8 | readers who like snowy nights |
| The Jolly Christmas Postman | Janet and Allan Ahlberg | 4-8 | readers who like letters |
| Olive, the Other Reindeer | Vivian Walsh | 4-8 | readers who like funny holiday stories |
| Santa Calls | William Joyce | 5-9 | readers who like adventures to the North Pole |
| The Mitten | Jan Brett | 3-7 | readers who like winter animals |
| Bear Stays Up for Christmas | Karma Wilson | 2-6 | younger readers |
| The Christmas Pig | J.K. Rowling | 7-11 | older readers |
| Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! | Don and Audrey Wood | 3-6 | younger readers |
| A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens | 9+ | older readers |
| The Snowy Day | Ezra Jack Keats | 2-6 | readers who like snow |
1. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
A board game brings the jungle to life.
Best for: readers who want more Van Allsburg.
2. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
Strange pictures with only a caption.
Best for: readers who like mysterious pictures.
3. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Santa visits on Christmas Eve.
Best for: readers who want the classic poem.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
A grumpy creature tries to steal Christmas.
Best for: readers who like holiday humor.
5. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
A snowman comes to life and flies.
Best for: readers who like wordless magic.
6. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A child and father go owling.
Best for: readers who like snowy nights.
7. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
A postman delivers Christmas mail.
Best for: readers who like letters.
8. Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
A dog thinks she's a reindeer.
Best for: readers who like funny holiday stories.
9. Santa Calls by William Joyce
Children are summoned to the North Pole.
Best for: readers who like adventures to the North Pole.
10. The Mitten by Jan Brett
Animals squeeze into a lost mitten.
Best for: readers who like winter animals.
11. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Bear tries to stay awake for Christmas.
Best for: younger readers.
12. The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling
A boy searches for his lost toy.
Best for: older readers.
13. Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don and Audrey Wood
A mouse shares Christmas.
Best for: younger readers.
14. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Ghosts visit Scrooge.
Best for: older readers.
15. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A boy explores the snow.
Best for: readers who like snow.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Polar Express: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Polar Express. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For more Van Allsburg magic, Jumanji and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick are classics. For Christmas wonder, The Snowman, Santa Calls and The Night Before Christmas are perfect. If your child loves holiday humor, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Olive, the Other Reindeer are favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Polar Express about?
A boy rides a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
Did it win awards?
Yes. It won the 1986 Caldecott Medal.
What is the bell's meaning?
Only people who truly believe can hear it ring.
What age is it for?
It suits children about 3 to 8, and families enjoy it together.
Is there a movie?
Yes. The 2004 animated film starred Tom Hanks.
Who is Chris Van Allsburg?
An American author-illustrator known for Jumanji.
What should my child read next?
Jumanji.