Crossing

"All who have succumbed to the allure of the railroad will be stopped in their own tracks by this eye-filling, show-stopping debut showcase." — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

Start with a vintage poem by Philip Booth, whose rhythms recall the cadence of a moving freight train. Pair it with detailed realistic paintings by Bagram Ibatoulline that masterfully and dramatically capture an American freight train in its heyday, along with all the small-town denizens who stop to watch its crossing. What you have is a majestic picture book that will enthrall train enthusiasts of all ages and delight anyone who appreciates a heady dose of nostalgia.

Philip Booth is a Fellow of the Academy of American Poets and has been honored by Guggenheim, Rockefeller, and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. The poem "Crossing" appeared in his first book, Letter from a Distant Land. Of his inspiration for the poem, he says, "I grew up in White River Junction, Vermont, where the White River and the Connecticut River come together. Many, many trains come down the river valley, traveling from Montreal to Boston, on to New Haven and beyond. The real crossing of this poem, though, is in Brunswick, Maine."

Bagram Ibatoulline (pronounced E`bat`too LEEN) was born in Russia and graduated from the State Academic Institute of Arts in Moscow. He has worked in fine arts, graphic arts, mural design, and textile design. CROSSING is Bagram Ibatoulline's first picture book.