The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
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.
Hours:
Hours from September through June
- Tuesday – Friday* 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- *Open Monday through Friday during the Massachusetts February and April school vacation weeks.
Hours in July and August
- Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Holiday Closures: Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
The Lord Jeffery Inn/ Eric Carle Museum Package
Picture everything Eric Carle! Enjoy this unique museum experience with your family. Begin your stay with in-room snacks for the family and new plush friends for the kids.
Then head on off to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with admission for four and a gift card to get you started in the gift shop. Finally, start each morning off right with breakfast for four in our restaurant, 30Boltwood.
Rates starting at $293
January 2020
The Eric Carle Museum, Word Play with Center Dance Studio
Join The Center Dance Studio for creative movement and narrative dance inspired by picture books. Bring your imagination and your dancing feet! Register online Free with Museum Admission; registration required Ages 3 and up; caregiver participation welcome. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Find out more »February 2020
The Eric Carle Museum, Valentine Card-Making Party
Make unlimited valentines for your family, friends, or classmates! All materials are provided. Space is limited, registration recommended. Walk-ins accepted as space allows. February 1, 10:00am - 11:30am $10 per child, adults are free (Members $8.5 per child) Ages 3+ with an adult, up to two children per adult
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, Special Storytime
Bilingual Storytime: Spanish. Join us in the Reading Library for storytime in multiple languages! Free with Museum Admission.
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, Workshop
Join us for this generative workshop exploring a range of Surrealist writing games involving chance, collaboration, and surprise! Approaching writing with a sense of play and wonder, we will attempt to say the unexpected, unlock the door to the unconscious, and release our collective creativity. Adults of all ages and writing experiences are welcome! $30 (Members $25.50) Adult Workshop (ages 16 and up). See Workshops for Adults & Educators to sign up.
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, First Book Friendiversary!
The Carle has teamed up with friends from First Book to observe their Friendiversary, an annual celebration of friendship and reading. Bring a friend and join us as we celebrate books with Elephant, Piggie and a host of other Museum friends – a FREE Mo Willems book to every child who attends (while supplies last)! To learn more about First Book, visit www.firstbook.org. In the event of snow, please call 413-559-6300 for cancellation news.
Find out more »