The train cars have a blocky, streamlined look, and he illuminates the scenes with genuine drama, as when the clown pleads with the Big Freight Engine to pull the train, and the huge train, in inky shadow, bellows “I won’t pull the likes of you!” Though the text is dated (“The good little boys and girls in the city will be happy because you helped us, Little Blue Engine”), Santat’s figures are more inclusive, and the clown and bear and the rest of the animals wear expressions that are more warmly animated and engaging than the stiff toys of the original. His usual sizzling energy is gentled here with warm sunlight and big skies. For its 90th anniversary, Caldecott Medalist Santat pays homage to the story’s original artwork while giving it his own distinctive polish. This tale of the little engine who cheers herself on in order to rescue a heavy train remains a bestseller almost a century after publication.
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