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.

Rare Book Moment: Early children's books

Michael Slicker discusses children's books in the 19th century. Michael Slicker's Rare Book Moment is recorded at Lighthouse Books, ABAA in St. Petersburg, Florida. Music by Jack Payne: Back to Those Happy Days

Kate Greenaway illustrated children's books

The Pied Piper of Hamlin by Kate Greenaway

Kate Greenaway

It is the birthday of English children's book illustrator Kate Greenaway (1846), whose paintings of children in late 18th century and Regency fashions influenced late 19th century clothing styles. Liberty of London, the famous department store on Regent Street, patterned a line of clothing in the 1880s after her drawings. Kate Greenaway pantaloons and bonnets for children were all the rage in the 1880s and 1890s among mothers who embraced the Arts and Crafts movement. Among here numerous illustrations: Mother Goose; Or The Old Nursery Rhymes (1881), Bret Hart's The Queen of the Pirate Isle (1886) and The Pied PIper of Hamlin (1888) Her paintings were reproduced from hand-engraved wooden blocks and presented more idealized figures than those of her contemporaries, children's artists Randolph Caldecott and Walter Crane. The Kate Greenaway Medal in given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature.