Before “The Polar Express” became a holiday movie tradition with Tom Hanks and motion-capture animation, it began as something far quieter—a picture book that captured the stillness of Christmas Eve and the quiet wonder of believing.
Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, the book was published in 1985 and has since become a classic, centered around a silver sleigh bell that rings only for those who truly believe in the spirit of Christmas.
A story told in whispers and snow
Chris Van Allsburg was already known in the children’s book world for “Jumanji,” but “The Polar Express” took a different path.
It was softer, dreamier and more introspective. Inspired in part by Van Allsburg’s childhood memories in Michigan and his fascination with the idea of belief, the book tells the story of a young boy who, on Christmas Eve, hears a train pull up outside his home.
It’s the Polar Express, and it’s heading to the North Pole.
The book is light on dialogue and heavy on atmosphere. The illustrations—done in colored pencils and pastels—capture the hush of snowfall, the warmth of the train and the cold, crisp magic of the North Pole.
Van Allsburg’s signature style is present throughout, blending realism with something just out of reach. Every page feels like a memory you can almost touch.
The Polar Express won the 1986 Caldecott Medal, one of the highest honors in children’s literature, thanks in part to its dreamlike art and emotional depth.
The story doesn’t shout; it whispers. And in that whisper, it invites readers—of any age—to imagine a world where magic is real, if only you believe.
The bell that rings for believers
At the heart of the story is a small silver bell, a gift from Santa’s sleigh.
After reaching the North Pole and witnessing the magical delivery operation firsthand, the boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas.
He asks for one of the sleigh bells, and Santa gladly obliges. But shortly after, the boy loses the bell through a hole in his pocket.
On Christmas morning, however, he finds a small box under the tree—the bell, returned with a note from Santa. When he rings it, he hears the clear, sweet sound.
But his parents cannot. “At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell,” the boy narrates.
“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.”
The bell becomes more than a token from Santa. It’s a symbol of belief, not just in the literal magic of Christmas, but in wonder itself.
Van Allsburg has said the bell represents “the possibility that something exists even if it cannot be seen or heard by everyone.”
It’s a metaphor for childhood innocence, for holding on to the unexplainable in a world that often demands proof.
A quiet legacy that still resonates
Nearly 40 years after its release, “The Polar Express” remains one of the most cherished holiday stories—not just for children, but for anyone who remembers what it felt like to believe. Its popularity endures because it doesn’t rely on spectacle.
There are no loud villains or slapstick scenes. Just a quiet train, a snowy night and a bell that rings only if your heart is open enough to hear it.
Many families now read the book as part of their Christmas traditions, often pairing it with a gift of a real sleigh bell.
For some, it’s a bedtime story. For others, it’s the book that starts the season.
Either way, the message is the same: Christmas magic exists for those who choose to believe.
From page to screen
In 2004, “The Polar Express” made the leap from page to screen with a big-budget film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks in multiple motion-captured roles.
While the movie took creative liberties and expanded on the book’s brief storyline, it kept the heart of Van Allsburg’s message intact: the importance of believing in something magical, even when others don’t.
The film was one of the first to use full performance-capture animation, giving it a unique, sometimes uncanny look that still sparks debate among viewers.
Tom Hanks played several characters—including the conductor, the boy’s father, Santa Claus and even the narrator—highlighting the idea that Christmas is both personal and universal.
The sleigh bell remains a central element in the movie, and the final message mirrors the book: the bell rings for those who truly believe.
The film added more action and backstory, including roller-coaster train scenes and additional characters, making it a more cinematic experience while preserving the gentle wonder of the original tale.
‘Polar Express’ fun facts and inspiration
- The author was inspired by childhood memories: Chris Van Allsburg grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where snowy winter nights and vintage trains weren’t uncommon. He has said that the idea of the Polar Express came partly from memories of a train that used to run near his home.
- The bell is more than just a bell: Van Allsburg intended the sleigh bell to be symbolic—something beautiful and magical that only believers can experience. It’s meant to represent the idea that not everything meaningful in life can be seen or explained.
- It’s a Caldecott Medal winner: The book won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1986 for its illustrations, which are done in a mix of colored pencils and pastels. The dreamlike quality of the artwork helps create that hushed, timeless tone.
- The book is just 32 pages long: Despite its short length, the story delivers an emotional punch. It’s often used in classrooms to spark discussions about belief, imagination and growing up.
- The train is modeled after a real one: The Polar Express in the book was loosely based on the Pere Marquette 1225, a steam locomotive that now operates out of Owosso, Michigan. The train was also used as a model in the animated film adaptation.
- A true holiday tradition: Since its release, millions of copies have been sold worldwide, and it’s been translated into multiple languages. Many families now incorporate a reading of “The Polar Express”—and sometimes a gift of a silver bell—into their Christmas Eve traditions.
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