When was the polar express published?

The Polar Express is a 1985 children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It was first published by Houghton Mifflin in that year, introducing the story of a young boy’s magical train journey to the North Pole. The book’s success led to a 2004 animated film adaptation directed by Robert Zemeckis. The original publication date remains 1985, as confirmed by the book’s bibliographic record.