One couldn"t select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children"s book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. And one couldn"t ask for a more talented artist and writer to tell the story than Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg, a sculptor who entered the genre nonchalantly when he created a children"s book as a diversion from his sculpting, won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for this book, one of several award winners he"s produced. The Polar Express rings with vitality and wonder. - Amazon.com