The Polar Express Worksheets

by Chris Van Allsburg

Reading Level N · Lexile 520L · ATOS 3.8

On Christmas Eve, a boy listening for Santa's sleigh bells hears hissing steam instead, and finds a train waiting outside his house. The Polar Express carries him to the North Pole, where Santa chooses him for the first gift of Christmas. A Caldecott Medal classic about believing.

Get the book on Amazon

Reading Level Conversion Chart

The Polar Express vocabulary words and comprehension questions

12 vocabulary words and 8 comprehension questions across 3 sections: Beginning · Middle · End.

Vocabulary words include rustle, insisted, conductor, nougat, wilderness, barren, factories, harnesses, lurch, unwrapped, silent, believe.

Sample questions

What sound is the boy listening for on Christmas Eve?
Where is the Polar Express going?
What does the conductor say Santa will give at the center of the city?

About our free novel study worksheets

Our free novel study worksheet generator builds printable vocabulary and reading comprehension worksheets for the books your students are reading. Pick a grade range, choose a series or title, and create no-prep practice — comprehension questions and vocabulary activities — tailored to that book in minutes.

Every novel worksheet can be printed for free or assigned digitally to your class. Teachers and homeschooling parents use them to support guided reading, book clubs, and independent novel studies from early chapter books through middle grade.

Frequently asked questions

Are these novel study worksheets free?

Yes. You can create and print vocabulary and comprehension worksheets for any available book for free, with no login required to print. A free account also lets you save worksheets and assign them to students.

How do I make worksheets for a specific book?

Choose a grade range, select the series and title, then generate vocabulary and comprehension worksheets built from that book's words and content.

What kinds of novel worksheets can I create?

You can create reading comprehension question worksheets and vocabulary worksheets — including matching, multiple choice, written, and flashcards — for each book.

What grade levels are these novel worksheets for?

They work for early chapter books through middle grade, with titles organized by grade range so you can match each book to your readers.