Caldecott Medal Winner
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Summary
On Christmas Eve a young boy boards a mysterious train bound for the North Pole, where Santa gives him a single silver sleigh bell that only true believers can hear. Van Allsburg renders the journey in soft, dreamlike oil pastels full of warm light and snowy night scenes that blur the line between reality and imagination. The book became a holiday classic and a touchstone of American picture book art, prized for its quiet wonder and its message about keeping faith in magic.
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Historical Context & Significance
The book inspired a 2004 motion capture animated film starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis.