The story appeals because Van Allsburg touches a universal chord -faith. Rich pastel illustrations, in blues and purples, are accompanied by a narrative that achieves an exceptional sense of story. Its sound can be heard only by those who believe in the impossible-that is, in Santa Claus. The story chronicles the adventures of a boy who boards the Polar Express, travels to the North Pole, meets Santa Claus, and is given a silver bell. It won the Caldecott Medal for illustration, appeared on the New York Times best seller list, sold more than a million copies in its first five years of publication, and achieved the status of a contemporary classic. The Polar Express, immediately taken to heart by children and adults alike, was a phenomenon in children’s publishing. The publication and subsequent success of Chris Van Allsburgs The Polar Express (1985) clearly established the illustrator-author as one of the premier creators of picture books in twentieth-century children’s literature.
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