The Polar Express is a 1985 fantasy children's picture book written and illustrated by American author Chris Van Allsburg.

For the work, Van Allsburg won the annual Caldecott Medal for illustration of an American children's picture book in 1986, his second after Jumanji.

[1][2] The book is set partially in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the author's home town, and was inspired in part by Van Allsburg's memories of visiting the Herpolsheimer's and Wurzburg's department stores as a child.

The Polar Express races north past towns and villages, through boreal forests, and over mountains, but the train never slows down.

The boy opens the box and discovers that it contains the bell, delivered by Santa along with a note explaining that he found it on the seat of his sleigh and to get the hole in his pocket fixed.

Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.Van Allsburg based the story on a mental image of a child wandering into the woods on a foggy night and wondering where a train was headed.

Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film features human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique.

The film stars Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, Michael Jeter, Eddie Deezen and Tom Hanks.

[19] The round-trip journey to the "North Pole" includes a live musical performance, hot cocoa and cookies, and Christmas characters such as Santa Claus and Mrs.