We've covered new books, old books, non-christmassy books and really christmassy books this year on our Booky Advent Calendar and we're returning once again to revisit a book that (gasp) had its 30th anniversary back in 2015 - but still manages to be one of the best Christmas books ever written.
Chris Van Allsburg's divine "The Polar Express" seeps into our Christmas preparations via the movie (which we always watch) and via the book - which is truly stunning and glorious.
A young boy begins to question the existence of Santa - but as he settles down to sleep on Christmas Eve he hears a strange noise outside, and wakes up to find a train driving down the middle of his street. Grabbing his dressing gown and slippers he leaps on board, joining a host of other children on a magical journey to the North Pole aboard...The Polar Express.
The boy finally meets Santa, but after losing the First Gift of Christmas (given to him by the big guy with the beard) once again the boy is forlorn. But you know what they say about the magic of Christmas and happy endings...
The illustrations are so gorgeous, the story weaves a gentle spell over you as you read it to your little ones - and for us we still always have those moments when we grab the tiny little gold bell that came with our Lindt Bunnies just to make sure we can hear that tiny tinkling sound...
"The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg is out now, published by Andersen Press.