Robert Desmarais is Head of Special Collections at the University of Alberta. A graduate of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information Studies, with a Book History and Print Culture designation, he also has university degrees in English literature and publishing.

"A fan of Caldecott from boyhood, Desmarais fondly remembers perusing the master illustrator's work when he was in preschool. That oeuvre was broadly reprinted into the 1970s and'80s. Caldecott's impact continues to be felt in the children's book industry. A major industry award is named after him - the Caldecott Medal, presented by the American Library Association - and the themes that he pioneered endure." Gilbert A. Bouchard, the Edmonton Journal, June 16, 2006.