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In Van Allensburg's The Polar Express, a small boy boards a mysterious train on Christmas Eve that winds through rugged terrain and past menacing wolves. The train arrives at the magnificent North Pole City, shrouded in winter darkness and relieved only by a multitude of tiny lights muted by the falling snow.

Oil pastels complement the rich, evocative text and capture the universal longing to believe. The double-page spreads provide scope for the unusual perspective and slightly indistinct outlines that create a haunting atmosphere.