Books like The Polar Express

If you liked The Polar Express, read Jumanji, Fables, or Lon Po Po — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Juvenile Fiction · grades K–3)? The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Polar Express

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Why each is a match

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Jumanjigrades K–3
Is by Chris Van Allsburg, the same author, both on the Caldecott Medal list, and same genre (Juvenile Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Fablesgrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Lon Po Pogrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Owl Moongrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Song and Dance Mangrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Strangergrades 3–5
Is by Chris Van Allsburg, the same author, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
A Story, a Storygrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Tree Is Nicegrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Big Snow and Other Storiesgrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Black and Whitegrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Polar Express for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Cinderella and Aladdin by Carron Brown · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like The Polar Express for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Cinderella and Aladdin by Carron Brown · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans · grades K–3 — Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like The Polar Express for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Caddie Woodlawn's Family by Carol Ryrie Brink · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–7).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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