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
Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner In their photographic picture book, True You: A Gender Journey, authors Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner offer a celebratory and informative look at kids and their wide-ranging gender identities. With the permission of their parents, the children in True You were recorded and transcribed by authors Agna and Rotner as they were […]
Join The Center Dance Studio for creative movement and narrative dance inspired by picture books. 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 admission
Join us for storytime with Micha Archer and let your imagination soar! Micha will read her Caldecott Honor winning book Wonder Walkers followed by a hands-on project in the Art Studio. Explore paints, stamps, and patterned papers as you create your own wonderful collage of your favorite animal. Book signing to follow program. Can’t make the event? You may reserve signed books online. WHO YOU'LL […]
(2 PDPs) The Carle is pleased to announce its Annual Educators’ Night featuring a presentation and book signing with award-winning author Kwame Alexander. Alexander will read from his new book, The Door of No Return, talk about the journey of being called to write this story, and discuss his vision for building community and bringing more empathy […]
An enchanting tale about the expansive power of generosity. Vincent was a mouse with boots on his feet, a hat on his head, and a house on his back. When an ordinary spot on a grassy hill calls out to him, Vincent puts down the house he carries on his back and knows he’s where he needs […]
March 2 is National Read Across America Day, a day to celebrate our favorite activity. The day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading. On National Read Across America Day, students, teachers, parents, and community members around the nation come together to read books and […]
The kids in your life would appreciate it if you spend time with them during this National Children’s Picture Book Day. We're open today from 10 am - 5 pm. National Children’s Picture Book Day is celebrated on April 2 is because renowned fairytale writer Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday also falls on the same day.
Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with The Carle Bookshop Saturday, April 30th with 10% off all book purchases in-store and online. Museum Members save an additional 15%. Plus, shop exclusive items only available through participating independent bookstores like The Carle. Supply is super limited so get them while you can! SHOP ONLINE SHOP INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY EXCLUSIVES
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 […]
