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
December 2018
The Eric Carle Museum, Exhibits
All: A Look into LGBTQ Representation in Picture Books, through July 28, 2019, Our Voice: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards, through January 27, 2019, Illustrated Owls: A Who’s Hoo from the Museum’s Vault, through April 21, 2019. Our Voice: Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards October 21, 2018 - January 27, 2019 The Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award annually recognizes outstanding African American artists of children’s books who demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. Our Voice is the first…
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, Night Owls PJ Party
Hoot! Hoot! Explore the Museum—and our special exhibition Illustrated Owls: A Who’s Hoo from the Vault—under the cover of night! In addition to night-themed art projects, storytimes, and films, guests will enjoy an evening snack of milk and cookies. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Museum Admission desk or by calling 413-559-6336. 6:00pm - 8:00pm $5 per child (Members Free)
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, CactusHead Puppets
The Bremen Town Musicians What can a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster do when they have to leave their farm? Become world famous musicians, of course! CactusHead Puppets brings to life the hilarious tale of four farm animals who set out on the road to Bremen to pursue their dreams of stardom. Along the way, they encounter a fortune, foil some robbers, and learn how to work together in harmony. This production features lovable rod puppets, elaborate shadow…
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, Special Storytime
In Mission Defrostable, our favorite breakfast food friends are back and “bready” for their next adventure! There’s a frost in the fridge—and it’s hardened Pudding Pond and frozen Yogurt Falls. Agent Asparagus is on the case, and she begs Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast to join her superspy team. But when the enemy snatches Asparagus, Pancake and French Toast have only one dough man to turn to for help: the evil Baron von Waffle! Will he help them save the…
Find out more »January 2019
The Eric Carle Museum, Special Sundays in the Studio
Paper Patterns 1:00pm - 4:00pm Free with Museum Admission Every Day Art Program: Take Flight: Sculptures that Soar through - February 12, 2019 All day Free with Museum Admission Inspired by the exhibition Illustrated Owls, experiment with a range of paper found materials to make your own sculpture that floats in the sky. NOW OPEN! Illustrated Owls: A Who's Hoo from the Museum's Vault Central Gallery Through April 21, 2019
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