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:
Closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Holiday Closures: Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Special Storytime: Kristen Nordstrom How did a bird help transform one of the fastest trains on the planet? How did a tiny beetle teach humans to collect water in the desert? Birds, beetles, whales, and more have inspired inventors from around the globe in Mimic Makers: Biomimicry Inventors Inspired by Nature, written by Kristen Nordstrom, and […]
Join us for this interactive bilingual storytime featuring books by Eric Carle in both Mandarin and English. WHO YOU'LL MEET RACHEL YUNG-HSIN Rachel Yung-Hsin is a writer/translator and student of languages currently based in western Massachusetts. She has a background in visual arts education, adores picture books, and looks forward to sharing stories with you.
Join The Center Dance Studio for creative movement and narrative dance inspired by 2021 Caldecott Honor winner Have You Ever Seen a Flower?, by Shawn Harris. 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 3-6. Caregiver participation welcome. Free with Museum […]
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 […]
Join The Center Dance Studio for this gentle, joyful introduction to creative movement for toddlers and their caregivers. Using imagery, rhyme and song, children are guided through simple yet foundational movement patterns that promote kinesthetic awareness, coordination and focus. Simple, engaging picture books will spark young imaginations while caregivers bond with children, socialize with other […]
Meet some of the artists highlighted in Celebrating Collage: A 20th Anniversary Exhibition. Come for a day of storytimes, gallery talks, and book signings! Participating artists include Bryan Collier, Nina Crews, Thao Lam, Susan Roth, and Elizabeth Zunon. Caravan Kitchen food truck will be in Bobbie’s Meadow from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. The Carle is celebrating 20 years and […]
National Read a Book Day on September 6 calls all book lovers to indulge in their favorite hobby, guilt-free. Bringing new worlds to life, books enlighten us and transport us on exciting adventures. They can challenge our perspectives on the human experience in ways unmatched by other media. In a world deluged by technology, National […]
