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
What Might You Do? Christian Robinson January 14 - June 4, 2023 East Gallery Enter a world of possibilities. Dear Reader: Picture Books and Letter Writing December 7, 2022 - April 2, 2023 Reading Library Celebrate the art of writing letters—why we write them, the journeys they take, and the impact of their messages.
Join us for Friendiversary! Each child who visits between Feb 1 – 5 gets a FREE Elephant & Piggie book while supplies last! Check out our new exhibition, What Might You Do? Christian Robinson, and enjoy lots of special Storytimes throughout the month. All events free with Museum admission unless otherwise noted. Inspired by the Elephant & Piggie book series by Mo Willems, First […]
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.
Special Storytime: The Golden Life of Sally Sunflower ARTISTS & AUTHORS FOR FAMILIES February 11, 2023 at 11 am - 11:45 pm Auditorium Free with Museum admission Join author Imani Ariana Grant, illustrator Simonne-Anais Clarke, and Lauren Simone Publishing House for this interactive program. Visitors will enjoy an interactive reading of The Golden Life of Sally Sunflower, drawing demonstration, and invitations to […]
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 Share your love of art-making and children’s books by becoming a volunteer at The Carle! […]
Hayley and John Rocco Free with Museum Admission. Join the Roccos for a reading of their newest book, How To Send A Hug, celebrating the magic of sending and receiving hand-written letters. After storytime, participants will be invited to craft their own special HUGs for family and friends.Book signing to follow program. Can’t make the event? You may reserve signed books online. AUTHOR WEBSITE […]
Geared for kids ages 5-12, you won’t want to miss this program packed full of high energy and family-friendly funnies! Founded in 2015, Happier Valley Comedy is the heart of improv comedy in Western Mass! Their Happier Family Comedy Show is all about letting creativity flourish in an accepting atmosphere. Each improv show is an hour-long, […]
Astrid Sheckels On a lazy summer day, Hector Fox and his friends watch a kite soar on the afternoon breeze and get a crazy idea: they also want to fly like a bird. Can the friends work together to design and build a flying machine? Can they find a brave pilot? And what happens if […]
Special Storytime with Circle Round's Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis Join author Rebecca Sheir and composer Eric Shimelonis — creators of WBUR’s award-winning children’s podcast, Circle Round — as they present the latest in a new picture book series that highlights a range of folktales exploring timeless values of kindness, generosity, acceptance, and more! The Great Ball Game: How […]
Bilingual Storytime: Rain! | Hora de cuentos bilingües: ¡Lluvia! Share stories in English and Spanish during this bilingual read-aloud of Rain! / ¡Lluvia! by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Participants will be invited to view original artwork from the book featured in the exhibition What Might You Do? Christian Robinson. Vengan compartir con nosotros el cuento bilingüe en español e inglés de ¡Lluvia!/Rain!, escrito por Linda Ashman y con ilustraciones de Christian Robinson. Los participantes podrán disfrutar de […]
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 […]
Geared for kids ages 5-12, you won’t want to miss this program packed full of high energy and family-friendly funnies! Founded in 2015, Happier Valley Comedy is the heart of improv comedy in Western Mass! Their Happier Family Comedy Show is all about letting creativity flourish in an accepting atmosphere. Each improv show is an hour-long, […]
Enjoy art-making for early learners. Explore materials in the Art Studio with special projects designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Drop-in and join us at any time during the 90 minute session. Recommended for children under 5 and their caregivers. WHO YOU'LL MEET MEG NICOLL Art Educator at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art since 2016, Meg […]
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 […]
