Joyce turns his considerable talents to Christmas, and the results are particularly merry. The story begins in Abilene, Texas, where Art Atchinson Aimesworth lives with his aunt and uncle, who run a Wild West show. Art has a weakness for sweets and is often mean to his sister, Esther. One day, a mysterious box appears from Santa Claus. Inside is a flying machine and the message, "Come North." So Art, his best friend, Spaulding Littlefeets, and Esther head to the icy unknown. Along the way, their eyes delight in the sights of Toyland, and they must fight off the Queen of the Dark and her nasty, candy-craving elves, who have only one word in their language: "gimmee." When the Queen steals Esther, it is Art, realizing what his sister means to him, who rescues her. Even as the drama ends, no reason for their being summoned north is given. In answer to Art's queries, Santa will only say, "Some mysteries are best left unsolved." But although it remains unsolved for Art, readers get their answer in the form of two letters--one from Esther asking Santa to make her brother her friend; the other, Santa's postvisit reply, "Such a rare and wonderful request could not be refused. I'm glad our little adventure did the trick." The whole book has a 1930s feel, from the stylized art to the very nature of the adventure, with its overtones of Saturday movie serials. Artistically, Joyce is at his most extravagant here, and although the colors seem to lack the intensity one craves in an escapade of this magnitude, the spreads are filled with every wondrous thing--lights, toys, candy, action. In picture books with art as delicious as this, the story often suffers. Not true here. This tale is robust, with twists and turns, and when readers find the letters at the end (cleverly, Joyce provides foldout letters for kids to open), they will find a measure of the Christmas spirit as well.
