Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books
By Stephanie Snyder,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Rambunctious ride through the life of Randolph Caldecott.
Add your ratingA Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
TOMFOOLERY! RANDOLPH CALDECOTT AND THE RAMBUNCTIOUS COMING-OF-AGE OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS is the story of how picture books evolved to be the wildly whimsical art exhibits they are today. It details the life of Randolph Caldecott, from young country boy to transformational illustrator, focusing on his passion and gift for art the entire way.
Is It Any Good?
This unique picture book biography teaches history while honoring the life of a trailblazing artist. Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children's Books is profound in that it captures the essence of the story through and through. The word choice and illustrations portray the magnitude of the transformation Caldecott brought to the world of illustration in the same energetic way. Young readers will absolutely enjoy poring over the detailed art. And this book is impactful in that it brings a fresh perspective on Caldecott medal and honor books and the innovative artists who create them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about perseverance in Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Books. What obstacles did Randolph Caldecott face in his life? What kept him going in the face of those obstacles? What do you think would have happened if he gave up on his dream?
How do the illustrations and words work together to show the wild, rambunctious style that Caldecott captured in his art?
Randolph Caldecott was a gifted artist. What is your gift? How can you use it to change the world?
Book Details
- Author: Michelle Markel
- Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Publication date: November 14, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 44
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 7, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Picture Books with Truly Amazing Illustrations
Biographies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate