Happy birthday, Randolph Caldecott

It is the birthday of British illustrator Randolph Caldecott (1846), whose illustrations for children’s books in the 19th century and his juxtaposition of words and images changed forever how children’s books were done. Illustrator Maurice Sendak recognized a subtle darkness to Caldecott’s work. "You can't say it's a tragedy, but something hurts. Like a shadow passing quickly over. It is this which gives a Caldecott book—however frothy the verses and pictures—its unexpected depth." The Caldecott Medal recognizing excellence in American picture books is named for him.