Randolph Caldecott

One of a series of classic Victorian children's books by the British artist and author. Caldecott was the eponym of the Caldecott Medal and transformed the world of children's books in the Victorian era. He exercised his art chiefly in book illustrations, which were full of life, and instinct with a kindly, graceful humour. The stories and rhymes were all of his choosing and in some cases were written or added to by himself.

Hey Diddle Diddle and Baby Bunting

CHIRP THE FIRST. The winter of 1878 was certainly an unusually dreary one, and so thought a remarkably fine young Blackbird, as he perched one morning on the bare bough of a spreading lime-tree, whose last brown leaf had fallen to the ground some weeks before. With the exception of the Scotch firs and other fortunate evergreens, there was nothing to be seen on all sides but leafless branches standing out sharply against the cold, grey sky. The ground was frozen, and entirely covered with snow, for there had been a heavy fall during the night. The way-marks of field and road were obliterated, all was one sheet of dazzling whiteness. Here and there a little mound marked the spot where a flower-bed lay buried, and there was one narrow path where the snow was thickly piled on either side, for it had been partially swept from the centre, which showed traces of the bright brown gravel below. The Blackbird was contemplating this landscape in a discontented and unhappy frame of mind. He was, as we have just said, a remarkably fine young bird. His plumage was of a glossy blackness, with which not even a raven's could vie; his bright eyes looked even brighter as they gleamed from the deep yellow rims which surrounded them, and his bill resembled the polished shaft of an early crocus. At the time at which my story begins, this Blackbird was about eight months old, and usually he was not a little vain of his appearance. On this particular morning, however, he did not feel at all so proud of himself, or especially pleased with any one or anything. He had passed the long night in a wood hard by, and had been benumbed with cold. He had tucked his head first under one wing, and then under the other, but it had been of no use, the cutting wind had penetrated even his thick warm feathers, and had ruffled them in a way which had sorely discomposed him, in body as well as in mind. Then again, all through the night he had been exceedingly put out by little cold wet dabs which kept continually falling on his back. The Blackbird had changed his position--he had done it several times: he had moved from a birch to an elm, and then to a beech-tree. But it was of no avail, the little cold droppings seemed to pursue him wherever he went, and it was not till quite late in the night that he found real shelter, and got a little rest in a thick mantle of ivy which completely covered a wall near the stables. What were these cold droppings? He could not imagine. He knew well enough they were not rain; rain always made a sharp pelting noise as it struck against the trees. But there had been no such sound, for, with the exception of the occasional sighing of the wind, the night had been a singularly noiseless one. What then could this cold, soft moisture be? The Blackbird could not at all understand it, but as he was well sheltered, and soon got warm in the ivy, he fell asleep and forgot all about it. The Blackbird on a small white hillock. The next morning, however, when he woke up and peeped forth from his green canopy, he was much astonished by the sight which met his eyes....

What the Blackbird Said a Story in Four Chirps

The Queen of Hearts

Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was one of the most important British illustrators. He transformed the world of decorated children's books in the Victorian era. In 1877, he was asked by Edmund Evans, the colour printer and talented engraver, to illustrate two children's books. These books were an immediate success and he went on to produce two books every Christmas until he died. Caldecott chose all the stories and rhymes he illustrated and occasionally wrote and added to the stories himself. His delightful style and humour can still be enjoyed by young and old alike. This story, 'The Queen Of Hearts', was originally published in 1881. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality, colour editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children.

The Queen of Hearts - Illustrated by Randolph Caldecott

A mad dog bites a man, but events are not as expected.

An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog

Beatrix Potter

Edward Lear

Kate Greenaway

2015 marks the 150th anniversary of Frederick Warne, which was founded in 1865 and is most famous for publishing Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit. To celebrate the anniversary, we have compiled Classic Children's Tales:150 Years of Frederick Warne, an attractive foil-stamped collector's item that includes "Sly Old Cat," a never-before-published story of Beatrix Potter's. It also features stories from household names in children's books: Randolph Caldecott's "Sing a Song of Sixpence," Kate Greenaway's "Apple Pie" and "Mother Goose," and Edward Lear's "Nonsense Songs and Stories" and "The Book of Nonsense."

150 Years of Frederick Warne

Classic Children's Tales

Rodney K. Engen

A comprehensive selection of Caldecott's work, including not only his best-known illustrations to books and periodicals, but also his less familiar oil paintings and sculpture, together with a complete catalogue of Caldecott's oeuvre.

Randolph Caldecott, Lord of the Nursery

A. Y. D.

The Owls of Olynn Belfry. A Tale for Children. By A.Y.D. Illustrated by Randolph Caldecott

"The Farmer's Boy" by Randolph Caldecott. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

One of R. Caldecott's picture books

The Farmer's Boy

Oliver Goldsmith

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

'The Babes in the Wood' is the classic English folklore tale, about two young orphans who end up in the care of their uncle. He is a devious man, and is determined to get his hands on the children's inheritance. He is willing to go through drastic measures to get it - even hiring murderers to take out his niece and nephew. The children are forced into the wild, deep woods, where they meet their untimely fate. The book is beautifully illustrated by Randolph Caldecott, one of the finest children book illustrators of all time.

The Babes in the Wood(annotated)

Reproduction of the original: The Panjandrum Picture Book by Randolph Caldecott

The Panjandrum Picture Book

A friendly letter accompanying a copy of a new journal, Will-o-the-wisp, which Caldecott feels feels will not be a success, calling it "wretched." The satirical pen and ink drawing, under Caldecott's postscript, "I am afraid it will not come to this," shows a newsboy standing in front of a gentleman saying "'Will o' the Wisp'? All sold, sir, got a 'Punch' left, sir." On Manchester and Salford Bank stationery.

Randolph Caldecott

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