The Polar Express

The Polar Express is a 1985 fantasychildren'spicture book written and illustrated by American author Chris Van Allsburg. Critics and various educators have described the book as a landmark in children's Christmas literature, and it is widely praised for its atmospheric illustrations by Van Allsburg himself and how it is a book about having faith. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline. 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.

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. 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 department stores as a child. It was adapted as a motion-capture film in 2004 starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis. Van Allsburg served as an executive producer on the film.

The book tells the story of a young boy who boards a magical train on Christmas Eve bound for the North Pole, where he receives a bell from Santa's sleigh as his first gift.

The book has sold more than 6.5 million copies and has been on the New York Times bestseller list every Christmas season since its first publication. It has been the inspiration for educational use, as well as for a 2004 film and many real-life train rides across the US, Canada, and the UK.