About the Museum
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.
Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country.
Read here about the remarkable life of Eric Carle MORE
Hours:
The Bookshop, Art Studio, and Reading Library hours are the same as the Museum.
Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.
If you want to know about boats, trust a sea dog to set you on course. In her latest picture book, Sea Dog Boats, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Astrid Sheckels has created a whole raft of sea dogs to help young readers begin their ABC’s and their nautical explorations. Filled with boats (and sea dogs) […]
WHO YOU'LL MEET Join Director of Education Courtney Waring for a guided tour exploring The Carle’s current exhibitions. WHO YOU'LL MEET COURTNEY WARING Courtney joined The Carle as Director of Education in 2013. She enjoys fostering the confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind.
Special Storytime: Heidi E.Y. Stemple Once forced to the sidelines of science, Mary Anning is now recognized as the world’s first paleontologist. Meet us at the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College for storytime and fossils! Author Heidi E.Y. Stemple will read from her new book, She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist. Participants will […]
Join The Center Dance Studio for creative movement and narrative dance inspired by Patricia Intriago’s Dot. Kids will love this interactive class that honors the reader, and storyteller, in all of us. Bring your imagination and your dancing feet! Recommended for children ages 2-6. Caregiver participation welcome.
Emma is a big dog with a lot of little dreams. She dreams of a cool roll in the grass, a warm spring walk, and food, of course. Every day her dreams get bigger, and bigger, until one day… A beautiful classic-in-the-making, Caldecott Honor Winner Elisha Cooper’s Emma Full of Wonders is a heartwarming and special read […]
Enjoy this interactive storytime for early learners. Move, sing, talk, and explore materials during this interactive storytime designed with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. Recommended for children under 5 and their caregivers. WHO YOU'LL MEET DAVID FEINSTEIN Literacy Educator at The Carle since 2017, David enjoys working with artists, educators, and families to create and share their stories.
Enjoy an extra special evening at The Carle with art, music, dancing, and food! Held on the third Thursdays in July and August, Summer Nights at The Carle provides evening access to the entire museum – from the galleries and art studio to the bookshop and Bobbie’s Meadow. Join us on July 18th and August 15th […]
Hands-On Nature Exploration with Mass Audubon Free with Museum admission Free for Museum Members Join Mass Audubon educator Kelly Walbert to engage in a hands-on exploration of our magnificent local nature. Touch a snapping turtle shell, a beaver chew, a black bear skull, and much more. Learn how to use binoculars to spot wildlife, find out […]
Braille Storytime with Mary Westgate Free with Museum admission Join Berkshire Hills Music Academy’s Mary Westgate for a fun, music-filled storytime featuring singing, musical instruments, and braille books. WHO YOU'LL MEET MARY WESTGATE Mary Westgate has been reading Braille books and singing with children for over 10 years. Mary is a day student at Berkshire Hills Music […]
Join us and certified children’s yoga instructor, Lorrie Heard, as we explore movement and fun inspired by the beautiful nature in Bobbie’s Meadow! Children will be invited to practice foundational yoga poses and breathing exercises, while stretching and strengthening their bodies and minds. Class will be geared towards ages 3–6, but parents and siblings are welcome. […]
Free The Carle is pleased to be participating The Highland Street Foundation’s August Adventures summer program. Admission to The Carle on Wednesday, August 21 is free. Food vendors: Riff’s Food Truck (11 am - 3 pm) and Crooked Stick Pops.
Join author/illustrator Ashley Belote for a piratey and sheepish storytime featuring her new book, Sheepwrecked! Ashley will read her new book and then teach the audience how to draw a character from the story. Baa-Hoy! Book signing to follow program. Can’t make the event? You may reserve signed books online. WHO YOU'LL MEET ASHLEY BELOTE Ashley Belote is the illustrator of Frankenslime and Valenslime by Joy […]
Join author/illustrator David Covell and singer/songwriter Julian Fleisher in a celebration of Gather Round — a timely and beautiful new book about the magic of campfires and how they bring us together. We’ll share stories. We’ll imagine sparks and fireflies. We’ll sing campfire songs including The Circle Song written especially for the book! Gather Round is David’s follow up to his […]
Story Chasers Join educator David Feinstein for a fun-filled storytelling adventure! Starting with a read-aloud designed for early learners, we will use books to spark our creativity and chase story themes across the museum, including the galleries, art studio, and Bobbie’s Meadow. Prepare to go wherever the stories take us! WHO YOU'LL MEET DAVID FEINSTEIN Literacy Educator […]
