Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

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Welcome to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. This museum, though named after the author of books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, features art from many children’s books. Inside you can explore the exhibitions and read books by local authors. Maybe you’ll see art from someone on this tour.

The museum, like this tour, has something to offer people of all ages. Visit the craft room for a fun child-friendly activity, and check out their events page for adult-friendly programming

Authors featured at this stop on the tour have many books for early readers. Their work focuses on colorful illustrations, animals, rhymes, and families. What was your favorite book when you were very little?

MEET THE AUTHORS

Eric Carle was a writer and illustrator of children’s literature who had many best-selling books published. His most popular and know work is The Very Hungary Caterpillar first published in 1969. Eric Carle has sold some 50 million copies and his writings have been translated into more than 60 languages. In 2002 Carle and his wife Barbara “Bobbie” Morrison, an early childhood educator, helped to open and establish the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. The museum collects and features the work of children’s book illustrators from not only the United States but from around the world.

Like many authors featured at this museum, P.D. Eastman’s books are for early readers. You might recognize his most famous title Go, Dog. Go! His books might remind you of another classic children's author, Dr. Seuss. That's because they were good friends and often worked together.

Megan Dowd Lambert is an award winning children's book author who worked at the Eric Carle museum for a long time. She helped organize their reading library, which features many of the authors and illustrators on this tour! Check out the audio clip (below) to hear her talk about working at the museum.

I SPY

I spy with my little eye something colorful with wheels!

I spy with my little eye a bug that is very very hungry!