From School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-Marcus has sifted through a variety of archival collections to find fresh material by and about the celebrated 19th-century British illustrator. Opening with an arresting self-portrait, the volume chronicles Caldecott's birth, rise in British social circles, travels, publications, marriage, and untimely death. The book is handsomely designed with a jacket bordered in the burnt sienna favored by Caldecott. Endpapers are decorated with cameos; thick, cream-colored paper lends richness. Marcus skillfully places his subject in historical context, weaving in such concepts as the impact of the advent of the train on the artist's energetic style and the influence of contemporaries (Turner, Whistler, Tenniel). He wonders, convincingly, if Caldecott had seen Muybridge's photographs proving that horses run with all four legs in the air-and if they inspired his depiction of John Gilpin's galloping horse that graces the Caldecott Medal. Art and quotations bolster the narrative, building the character of a complex man and ultimately detailing his contributions to picture-book design. The question of audience arises. With a trim size comparable to a portrait-style picture book, a page count of 64, and examples with clear child appeal, this is not pitched to academics. Yet, its scrupulous documentation, thorough back matter, and sophisticated language, e.g., "The epicenter of England's burgeoning textile industry, Manchester was a new kind of city," indicate it is also not for casual, child readers. It will be a delight for picture-book enthusiasts and a provocative introduction for those who want the backstory of the man behind the medal.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
*Starred Review* Published in time for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Caldecott Medal is Marcus’ lavishly illustrated biography of the man for whom the award is named. Caldecott, “the man who could not stop drawing,” was born on March 22, 1846, in Chester, England. He began drawing when he was six, but his first jobs were not as an illustrator; instead he served two stints as a bank clerk before finally moving to London in 1872 and beginning a career as a full-time artist. The book that first brought him wide attention, Washington Irving’s Old Christmas, was published in 1875, and the first two of his hugely popular children’s picture books appeared in 1878. The prolific Caldecott, who had suffered from frail health since a childhood bout of rheumatic fever damaged his heart, died at the tragically early age of 39 while on a taxing trip to the U.S. Marcus does a superb job of summarizing Caldecott’s busy life while focusing much of his attention on the work that defined him. In his acute analysis of the artist’s work, Marcus, not surprisingly, gives major attention to the picture books, a form “invented” by this “incomparable innovator.” This beautifully designed and illustrated large-format volume is a worthy tribute to the man who remains a giant in the world of children’s literature. Grades 6-12. --Michael Cart
Review
“Marcus's thorough attention to detail, sober writing, and social conscience all contribute to an exemplary juvenile biography. A handful of illustrations enliven every spread, revealing the artist's gift for capturing action in a few swift lines.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This beautifully designed and illustrated large-format volume is a worthy tribute to the man who remains a giant in the world of children's literature.” ―Booklist, starred review
“It will be a delight for picture-book enthusiasts and a provocative introduction for those who want the backstory of the man behind the medal.” ―School Library Journal, starred review
“Randolph Caldecott and Edmund Evans themselves would be pleased.” ―Horn Book, starred review
About the Author
Leonard S. Marcus is one of the world’s leading writers about children’s books and the people who create them. His own award-winning books include Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing; Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L'Engle in Many Voices; Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; Minders of Make Believe; and The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was a British artist and illustrator and the namesake of the Caldecott Medal. Although primarily known for highly influential children's book illustrations, he also lent his artistic skills to novels, travel writing, and humorous cartoons, as well as sculpture and paintings. Some of his best known illustrations appear in The House That Jack Built, John Gilpin, The Three Jovial Huntsmen, and A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
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