- Genre: Children's/Family
- Release Year: 1988
- Run Time: 30 minutes
The Polar Express
Movies:
The Polar Express |
| Wikipedia: The Polar Express |
| The Polar Express | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Author | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Illustrator | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Country | United States |
| Genre(s) | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
| Publication date | 1985 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 978-0395389492 |
| OCLC Number | 12162097 |
| Dewey Decimal | [E] 19 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.V266 Po 1985 |
This article is about the book. For the film adaptation, see The Polar Express (film).
The Polar Express is a 1985 children's book (ISBN 0-86264-143-8) written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, a former professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. It was adapted as a Oscar-nominated motion-capture film in 2004.
The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. In 1986, it was awarded the Caldecott Medal for children's literature. The book is set partially in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the author's home town. It is published in both soft and hard-copies.
Plot summary
As the book starts off on the night of Christmas Eve, a young boy is lying in bed waiting to hear the sound of Santa Claus's sleigh bells. Suddenly, he hears loud rumbling outside on the street as a magical train called The Polar Express pulls up in front of his house. The boy ventures outside and is invited by the train's conductor to journey to the North Pole. The train is filled with children, all dressed in their pajamas, who drink hot chocolate as rich as melted chocolate bars and the train rumbles on.
As the train reaches the North Pole, the boy and the other children see thousands of elves gathered at the center of town waiting to send Santa Claus on his way. The boy is handpicked by Santa to receive the first gift of Christmas. Realizing that he could choose anything in the world, the boy asks for one beautiful-sounding silver bell from Santa's sleigh. The boy places the bell in the pocket of his robe and all the children watch as Santa takes off into the night for his annual deliveries.
Later, on the train ride home, the boy discovers that the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. The boy arrives home and goes to his bedroom as the train pulls away. On Christmas morning, his sister finds a small package for the boy under the tree, behind all of the other gifts. The boy opens the box and discovers that it is the bell, delivered by Santa who found it on the seat of his sleigh. When the boy rings the bell, both he and his sister marvel at the beautiful sound. His parents, however, are unable to hear the bell and remark that it must be broken. The book ends with a famous quote, also promoted to the film based on it:
At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Saint George and the Dragon |
Caldecott Medal recipient 1986 |
Succeeded by Hey, Al |
|
||||||||
 |
This article about a children's picture book is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
| Shopping: The Polar Express |
Learn More
 | Chris Van Allsburg (Writer / Illustrator) |
| World Class Trains: The New Polar Express (1999 Travel Film) |
| The Polar Express [Deluxe Edition] (2004 Album by Original Soundtrack) |
 | What was the hobo playing in 'The Polar Express'? Read answer... |
| Where is The Polar Express going? Read answer... |
| Was Scrooge in The Polar Express? Read answer... |
Help us answer these
 | Is polar express a common noun? |
| Summary of The Polar Express? |
| What's the name of the girl in the polar express? |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Movies. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Movie Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Polar Express". Read more |
Related answers
- What kind of vehicle is the Polar Express in the movie The Polar Express?
- The copyright date of the polar express?
- Polar express tom hanks?
ADVERTISEMENT
Answer these
- What is the polar express theme?
- Polar express 1225?
- Where does polar express go?
- Are the polar express tickets sold out?
Mentioned in
- Chris Van Allsburg (Writer / Illustrator)
- World Class Trains: The New Polar Express (1999 Travel Film)
- The Polar Express [Deluxe Edition] (2004 Album by Original Soundtrack)
- The Polar Express (2004 Album by Original Soundtrack)
- Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009 Children's/Family Film)
- Kate Shelley & Midnight Express: Reading Rainbow (TV Episode) (1991 Children's/Family TV Episode)
- Jimmy Bennett (Actor, Comedy/Children's/Family)
- The Polar Express (2004 Children's/Family Film)
- Discovering Canada By Rail: East to West Panorama (1999 Travel Film)
- Zathura (2005 Fantasy Film)
- Josh Hutcherson (Actor, Children's/Family/Fantasy)
- National Geographic: Polar Bear Alert (1982 Nature Film)
- Tom Hanks (Actor)
- Polar Night Stress (2001 Album by Polar Goldie Cats)
