Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books by Michelle Markel

Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books Reviews

• 
  Rod Brown

  A nifty little profile of the man for whom the Caldecott Medal is named, featuring plenty of his artwork in addition Barbara McClintock's fine work. Fun and educational.
• 
  Sherry

  This is a brief introduction to the life, times and history of books for children before and through the life of English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Sketches and paintings by Randolph Caldecott are included on the end pages and throughout the book. American author/illustrator Barbara McClintock has worked her magic and produced lively pen and ink and watercolor sketches filled with high energy, appealing diverse people and animals to bring Michelle Markel’s text to life.
  Markel has also written a similar companion book, “Balderdash!” about the Life of John Newbery, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.
• 
  Peoria Public Library

  Spencer rated this book 5 out of 5 stars.
• 
  Cassiejoan

  Love this! Adding it to my list of books to buy for grandbabies :)
• 
  Caroline

  My review is going to make it sound like I didn't like this book. I really liked this book. I thought the text and image worked really nicely together and it brings one of those famous-but-you've-never-heard-of-them people to life. It's a great picture book biography. I loved seeing Randolph Caldecott's originally illustrations brought to new life and reimagined. I loved the cameos of other Caldecott winners (I really loved that. I want a poster of that image, plz.) None of that means that this book isn't also total bait. Librarians love books about how important and wonderful our work is. This is book is sort of an extension of that. Not to say that Caldecott doesn't deserve a superstar picture book bio (which this is), just expect that this book will be on librarian's best-of lists for a long time.
  
  Also, would be so great to read with a class as you embark on a Mock Caldecott project.
• 
  JoJo Ames

  Beautifully illustrated tribute to Randolph Caldecott, for whom the Caldecott Medal is named. Markel incorporates many of Caldecott's own illustrations, including a 2 page color spread of the illustration from The Diverting History of John Gilpin (featured on the Caldecott Medal). Outstanding!
• 
  Zan Porter

  "Meet Randolph Caldecott, the artist who revolutionized picture book illustration and for whom the prestigious Caldecott medal is named! A lively, humorous, and energetically informative biography that celebrates the spirit of storytelling in art. Quick! If you don’t move fast, you’ll miss him--there he goes--Randolph Caldecott, future famous illustrator. His sketchbook is full of wild weather, frisky animals, and people so sprightly they can barely hold onto the pages. But in the 1850s, there were no children’s books like that. Not yet. Many books are published, but their pictures look stiff, full of pretty poses and cluttered scenery. No one has imagined how much fun an illustrated book could be because the future hero of children’s book illustration is still just a lad. A riotous adventure through the seminal history of children's books--their art, their joy, and the man who changed them for good."
• 
  Peacegal

  Absolutely delightful illustrations inspired by a pioneer in artwork--whose name still famously graces the award given to the best-illustrated children's books!
  
  Inspired by Caldecott's lively drawings, animals and people cavort across each page, bursting with color and movement. This is another picture book biography that will inform adults as much as kids.
  
  Humane families note: Caldecott's lifelong appreciation and love of animals is remarked upon throughout the book. Animals inspired his artwork, and many if not most of his illustrations featured them in the sort of active scenes he saw every day in 1800s England. Sadly, there are also mentions of him going on foxhunts. Caldecott was a product of his time and one would hope that if he was living in the modern era, he would choose to express his appreciation of animals through kindness and compassion for them. This part of the text could inspire some good conversations about changing times and evolving values.
• 
  Becky

  First sentence: Come on in. A whole world lives and breathes inside these pages.
  
  Premise/plot: A nonfiction picture book biography of illustrator Randolph Caldecott. While young readers may not have heard of Randolph Caldecott, there is a good chance they've heard the words "Caldecott."
  
  The book focuses in on how Caldecott revolutionized the world of children's books, of children's publishing, changing what books printed and published for children actually literally look like.
  
  My thoughts: I took a graduate course in the history of children's books. This book was a mini-refresher; it was a good reminder of how things were.
  
  I think this one could be enjoyed by elementary age readers. But I also think it has the potential for older readers including adults.
  
  I enjoyed the narrative text. I wanted to absolutely love the illustrations--since Randolph Caldecott was an illustrator himself. But I "merely" liked them. Not a big deal--personally. It isn't unusual for me to prefer text over illustrations OR illustrations over text.
  
  So far this one has received FIVE starred reviews. This matters. Perhaps a little more than it should, it matters. It definitely raises expectations. It makes readers second guess themselves at times. Why didn't I absolute
• 
  Susan

  It’s 1850 and all of the picture books are very stiff and formal and not at all inviting. Then along came Randolph Caldecott. He’s just a child, but he imagines illustrations full of life and full of fun. He jumps in and begins to create. He just can’t stop drawing, even though his father doesn’t approve. But this is just the beginning…
  
  This picture book biography tells the story of Randolph Caldecott, whose innovative and imaginative illustrations transformed the first picture books into the joyful creations we know today. This story introduces us to Randolph and gives us insight into all of the steps he took along the way until he published his first picture books in 1878. We even get to see examples of his art! The detailed back matter includes a list of Caldecott’s picture books, an index of his illustrations in the book and detailed annotations adding additional information about Randoph Caldecott’s life.
  
  I would often share Caldecott winning books with the children in the library. I explained that a book that received the award was selected as the most distinguished illustrated picture book in the United States. I wish I’d had this book to read first.This is an excellent introduction to a Caldecott unit for any age.
  
• 
  Allie

  Good gravy, what a snooze. Librarians are the easiest sell when it comes to books about picture books, but this one is a real dud. The boring subject matter is definitely not helped by the lifeless presentation. As a biography, it is maddeningly linear. I truly don't care about so much of his boring ass life. His big break was drawing a picture of a burning building? Cool? There is the lightest attempt at a text that mirrors his constant movement, but there's just way too much. The Big Idea that became picture books, that pictures can help move the story forward, is mentioned in a single sentence even though that is a huge concept for a child. Imagine if that idea were incorporated into the illustrations or the design of the book! Imagine!!
  
  I truly don't know who I would ever recommend this to, and I would never have read it if not for our Mock Caldecott event coming up in January. It wouldn't be the Mocks unless my table gets a rant from me about this year's drivel!
• 
  Beverly

  What a wonderful biography of the illustrator whose name graces a premier award for children's book illustrators! I not only loved McClintock's black India ink and watercolor illustrations; I loved that some of Caldecott's own illustrations were included on several pages, especially the double-page painting from The Diverting History of John Gilpin. The biography is interesting and not too wordy; the illustrations burst with energy and life. On one of the pages near the end, there is an illustration of 8 Caldecott award-winning illustrators, holding his or her award-winning book, and surrounded by children. McClintock included herself, sitting on the floor, sketching on a sketch pad. Back matter includes further information about Caldecott, a list of his picture books, and a bibliography.
  
  
• 
  Ellon

  4 stars (I really liked it)
  
  I had to read this book about Randolph Caldecott, the man who the Caldecott award, the highest honor in children's book illustrations, is named after! I talk about the Caldecott award so much with my students but I honestly didn't know too much about him before this.
  
  I can appreciate how he revolutionized picture books but in today's standards, the illustrations in this book are somewhat dull. Still it is nice to see his style.
  
  I found the text to be a bit chaotic. I think that Markel was trying to show that Caldecott was in constant motion but I found that the book became a bit disjointed.
  
  I will still purchase because I think my students will enjoy reading about the man who the Caldecott award is named after!
• 
  Adele

  Really nice children's biography of Randolph Caldecott that makes great use of his own drawings combined with modern illustrations by
  Barbara McClintock. I appreciate the diversity in the modern illustration crowd scenes. The end matter provides just the right amount of clarifying details and additional facts, while the meat of the content is effectively conveyed in the story itself. Makes me want to read
  Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books as well.
• 
  Darla

  He has poured joy into his characters. He has built entire worlds for them to romp through. He has given children stories in pictures they can understand, even if they haven't yet learned to read.
  
  Do we realize how fortunate we are to have such a plethora of picture books available for us? This biography in that form tells the story of Randolph Caldecott. Although a sickly young man, he reveled in being outdoors and the antics of animals. His gift for illustration brought those animals and people to life on the printed page. About fifty years (1937) after Caldecott passed away during a trip to America (1886), the American Library Association created the medal for artists that we still award today -- the Caldecott Medal. And now you know the rest of the story. 😉
• 
  Rebecca

  Honestly, this may be the first time I've really understood why we have an illustration award named after Caldecott. This made it click. What Barbara McClintock does here, with pen & ink and watercolor (no digital!) to integrate Caldecott's illustrations and tell a story that blends past and present, is a masterclass in visual storytelling. I hope she finally gets awarded for her decades of excellent work.
  
  "Details about what makes a great picture book are seamlessly integrated, which could be applied to current Caldecott winners as McClintock also includes portraits of several Caldecott-winning artists." -Booklist
• 
  Alicia

  A picture book biography about Randolph Caledcott includes all he had to overcome in life including illness and the lack of a market for children's book-- really he created it with others because the Victorian toy books weren't enticing or interesting, but that they created a market for children to read and enjoy stories with movement, excitement, animals, and nature, is the true celebration.
  
  We wouldn't be where we are today without his genius and talent even when his dad wanted him to be a banker. The backmatter is fun to read and to know that some of his illustrations are embedded in this story is a bonus.
• 
  Janet

  Very good intro to Randolph Caldecott for young children as well as adults with interesting illustrations as well as copies of some of Caldecott’s illustrations. I enjoyed the information about his early life and the various jobs/professions he worked in. Also appreciated knowing that he was an animal lover and transferred that love into moving active animals in his illustrations. Ends with five or six pages of references on Caldecott’s illustrations included in title, a timeline of his life and references used consulted for the text.
• 
  Calista

  I love seeing the artwork of Randolph Caldecott. They need to re-publish his works so we can all read them.
  
  This is a nice little biography of the man who started children's books. He was a very active person. Great for beginner's and older.
  
  The artwork is great here. It's a blend of some of Randolphs work and much of Barbara McClintock in his style. It works.
  
  I love the use of words and language here and they emphasize action words. It's a great book for people who love words and language: pounce, jitter.
• 
  Laura Harrison

  This is THE perfect picture book biography. Barbara McClintock was the perfect choice for a book about Randolph Caldecott. I read and review many picture books all year. Tomfoolery! truly had me swooning. Every page was interesting, magnificently detailed and beautiful. Caldecott's own illustrations are reproduced in this biography which delighted me to no end. This could finally be the book that wins Barbara McClintock a Caldecott. It is stupendous!
• 
  Amy

  I anxiously await each January for the Caldecott Award for Excellence in Children's Illustrations to be announced but I didn't know anything about the man the award is named after. This book gives a fantastic introduction to Randolph Caldecott and explores how he changed the entire landscape of children's books with his work. Barbara McClintock does a beautiful job illustrating in his style and even incorporates some of his original work into the pictures.
• 
  Susie

  One of the things I like best about this book is that the illustrations are done in a manner similar to what Caldecott used; the verso has all the details, including nib size and type of paper. The story flows well, and good use is made in the back matter of providing many details (including names and places) that might have bogged down the story a bit for children. A very fitting tribute to Caldecott!
• 
  Roben

  What a great read! As a youth services librarian, I have known who Randolph Caldecott is for quite a while. But I didn't know a lot about him. This book helps fill in some gaps! I liked this quote - "He has given children stories in pictures that they can understand even if they haven't yet learned to read." It took him a while to find his niche but when he did - he changed children's books forever.
• 
  Ms. B

  Memoir about the man who the Caldecott medal was named for. Including illustrations from several of
  Randolph's works that made me think of
  Best Loved Nursery Rhymes and Songs.
• 
  Phobean

  Charming art. I knew nothing about this guy. Never wondered whose art was on the Caldecott Medal even once. Mainly what I came away with was 1) a visit to the US seems to have killed this guy and 2) humans can be real arbitrary when it comes to bestowing honors. Reading this picture book bio did not convince me that the one major picture book honor in the country was thoughtfully appointed. Kind of like Audubon, I guess.
  
  Will young readers find this interesting?
• 
  Marcia

  An entertaining story about Randolph Caldecott and how he turned books for children on their head. He deserves to have the award named after him! Barbara McClintock's illustrations are a perfect match for the story, and there are lots of little biographical bits to spot among her drawings. A perfect choice as we enter into Caldecott Medal prediction season! Maybe this one...
• 
  Amy

  Recommend this book for picture book lovers; I enjoyed learning about the history of children's book illustrations.
  
  After a quick Google search, I was surprised to learn that (1) the Caldecott Medal is awarded only to Americans even though Caldecott was English, and (2) Caldecott is buried in St. Augustine, Florida.