The Magic Journey’s first page states that the book is adapted by Tracey West, and based on the motion picture screenplay by Robert Zemeckis, which was based on the book The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. This is the type of book you would find in a grocery store, and children would recognize it because the picture on the cover is the poster from the movie. It is interesting to compare the language in the grocery store book to the original book. The first page of the grocery store book, The Magic Journey is:
“Years ago, on a snowy Christmas Eve, a boy lay quietly in bed. He was waiting-waiting for the jingle of Santa’s bells on the roof. He wanted to believe that Santa was real, but deep down, he just wasn’t certain. If he heard the sound of sleigh bells and saw Santa, then he would be sure. Only then.”
The story follows the original fairly closely, but the language is so different. Here is an example of Chris Van Allsburg’s original:
“On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound-a sound a friend had told me I’d never hear-the ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh. ‘There is no Santa,’ my friend had insisted, but I knew he was wrong. Late that night I did hear sounds, though not of ringing bells. From outside came the sounds of hissing steam and squeaking metal. I looked through my window and saw a train standing perfectly still in front of my house.”
The difference in the language is so obvious, the original is like poetry. Children who might read The Magic Journey instead of The Polar Express miss this much richer text
Also, the original The Polar Express illustrations are like works of art, and show a very unique version of what the North Pole looks like - an industrial city full of hard working elves. There is nothing wrong with the grocery store version of The Polar Express. The pictures are all just like the animation from the movie. But they are just not up to the art of The Polar Express. Parents and children who read The Magic Journey in place of The Polar Express miss out on the magic of the original.
Title: The Magic Journey
Author: Adapted by Tracey West from a screenplay by and based on the motion picture screenplay by Robert Zemeckis, which was based on the book The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 2004
ISBN: 0-618-47788-8
I thought it was very interesting that you compared both books with one another. I also agree that it would be a shame for children and families to only read the grocery store book instead of reading the original, as it is truly a work of art in regards to the picture and words.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting review of a grocery store book. I have never heard of this one, but I definitely agree with you that it is sad that publishers would create another lower-quality book rather than just advertise the amazing original. I am actually surprised that Chris Van Allsburg was ok with this. I wonder if he sold some of the rights when the movie came out.
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