In the 2004 film The Polar Express, which author wrote the book on which the movie is based?

Chris Van Allsburg wrote the book on which the 2004 film The Polar Express is based.

Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated the picture book The Polar Express, published in 1985. The story follows a boy who boards a magical train on Christmas Eve and travels to the North Pole. The film expands the short picture-book narrative into a feature-length adventure.

Robert Zemeckis directed the movie, which uses computer-generated imagery and motion-capture techniques. Tom Hanks performs several roles, including the Hero Boy, the conductor, and Santa Claus. The film emphasizes belief, wonder, and the sound of a mysterious silver bell.

The movie retains major visual ideas from Van Allsburg’s illustrations, including the train’s dramatic journey through snowy landscapes. The author’s name is sometimes confused with the film’s director or voice cast, but Van Allsburg was the original creator of the source book.