What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Home
United States
Amherst, MA
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

The Carle is the international champion for picture books. We collect & exhibit original art.
(1081)

Due to limited capacity to allow for social distancing, The Carle recommends purchasing tickets in advance on our website where you can also find upcoming events, virtual exhibits, learn about Eric Carle, and more! Masks are required for all guests age 5 and up regardless of vaccination status.

06/11/2026

We mourn the loss of author, storyteller, and dear friend of The Carle, Jane Yolen.

Jane made an extraordinary mark on the world of children's literature. The prolific, award-winning author of 450 books, including “Owl Moon”, “The Devil's Arithmetic”, and “The Emperor and the Kite”, she inspired generations of readers. Though her work reached audiences around the world, she was also a beloved member of our Western Massachusetts community, having attended Smith College and made her home in nearby Hatfield.

In 2010, The Carle presented "Partners in Wonder: Selections from the Collection of Jane Yolen," an exhibition featuring artwork from books she wrote. Jane and her daughter, Heidi, remained cherished members of our community, joining us over the years for storytimes, talks, and special events. When Jane published her 365th book, The Carle was honored to host a celebration of that remarkable milestone.

"We write not just to show off, not just to tell, or only to have written. We write to know ourselves." —Jane Yolen, “Take Joy: A Writer's Guide to Loving the Craft”

Our hearts are with Jane's family, friends, and the many readers whose lives she touched.

06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day! 🐚

Our oceans are teeming with color and life—and continue to inspire magical stories. In this underwater scene from Jerry Pinkney's adaptation of "The Little Mermaid," realistic reef creatures surround a fantastical coral castle.

Compare the final illustration with the sketch. What differences do you notice?

🖼️ Explore more wondrous watercolors in our upcoming exhibition, "Soul, Sound & Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney," opening June 20. https://bit.ly/4e2jZZT

📅 Museum members can get an early look at the exhibition during our Members' Preview on June 18! Register here: https://bit.ly/4xstU42
__
🎨 Jerry Pinkney, Sketch and final illustration for The Little Mermaid (Little, Brown Books). Gift of Gloria Pinkney. © 2020 Jerry Pinkney.

06/03/2026

Happy Pride! 🌈🎉

What picture book helps you feel proud to be yourself? Share your recommendation in the comments with a colored heart emoji to help us build a rainbow of books! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

This rainbow highlights selections from our booklist celebrating LGBTQIA2S+ stories and creators.

📚 Explore the full collection from The Carle Bookshop here: https://bit.ly/4dOpZoP

__
❤️ King & King (Tricycle Press). Text © 2003 Linda de Haan and illustrations © 2003 Stern Nijland.

🧡 IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All (Dottir Press). Text © 2023 Carolyn Choi, Chelsea Johnson, and LaToya Council and illustrations © 2023 Ashley Seil Smith.

💛 Neither (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). © 2023 Airlie Anderson.

💚 They She He Me: Free to Be! (Reflection Press). © 2017 Maya Christina Gonzalez & Matthew Sg.

💙 The Best Bed for Me (Walker Books). © 2022 Gaia Cornwall.

💜 Maiden & Princess (little bee books). Text © 2019 Daniel Haack & Isabel Galupo and illustrations © 2019 Becca Human.

06/02/2026

Who's coming to The Carle this June? 📖

We've got a fabulous line-up of Storytime events this month—Come join us!

📆 June 6 at 2–2:30 pm | R.W. Alley*
*Plus, join us for a Members’ Meet and Greet at 1 pm!
https://bit.ly/4dXrnG1

📆 June 13 at 11–11:30 am | Vicki Johnson & Gillian Reid
https://bit.ly/4dG650I

📆 June 27 30 at 11–11:30 am | Ruth Forman
https://bit.ly/49UDaDZ

Plus, be sure to check out our daily Storytime schedule on our website!

Can’t make the event? The Carle Bookshop has you covered! Pre-order signed books online at the link in our bio.
__
📗 Construction Crews Build Big! (Astra Young Readers). © 2026 R.W. Alley.

📙 Mac Wears A Hat (Little Bee Books). Text © 2026 Vicki Johnson. Illustrations © 2026 Gillian Reid.

📘 Do I Love You? Yes I Do! (Little Simon). Text © 2026 Ruth Forman. Illustrations © 2026 Raissa Figueroa.

06/01/2026

Happy World Milk Day! 🥛

How many stories can one simple food tell? Beyond his picture books, milk appears in stories Eric Carle shared from his life—from using it as an ingredient while making breakfast to learning how to milk a cow on his grandmother’s friend’s farm during World War II.

🖼️ Explore how food inspires stories in "Cooking with Eric Carle," on view through September 6. https://bit.ly/471vBtO
__
🎨 Eric Carle, Illustration for My Very First Book of Food. Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © 1986 Penguin Random House LLC.

📷 Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © Penguin Random House LLC.

05/31/2026

"When photographing dance, the images must, must, must reflect the choreographer’s unique vision... My task was to find a way to marry Bill’s unique choreography with my photographic style. Our task was to create a book that children of all ages will adore." —Susan Kuklin

How do you capture movement in a still image? In "Dance! With Bill T. Jones," photographer Susan Kuklin took on that challenge, collaborating with acclaimed choreographer Bill T. Jones to create a picture book that celebrates the power of dance.

📝 In our latest blog post, Susan reflects on the creative process behind the book. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4vhpV8l

🖼️ There’s just one week left to explore "CLICK! Photographers Make Picture Books," on view through June 7.
__
📷 Susan Kuklin, Photograph for Dance! With Bill T. Jones (Hyperion). Collection of Susan Kuklin. © 1998 Susan Kuklin.

05/28/2026

A new Everyday Art Project has sprouted in the Studio 🌳✂️

Watch our art educator Wazi recreate the iconic cork tree from “The Story of Ferdinand”, where we’ll display artwork created as part of our latest drop-in project.

“Serene Scene” invites you to design your own botanical paper cut outs, inspired by our “Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand” exhibition. Stop by through July 12 to explore materials for this project!

05/26/2026

Celebrate flowers and Ferdinand at The Carle with live music, art making, and special hours on June 4🌼

📆 On Thursday, June 4, The Carle will be open from 1–8 pm.

Join us for our final Carle After Dark of the year, "Viva Ferdinand!" inspired by our current exhibition, "Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand."

Beginning at 4 pm, create collage blooms and help grow a community Field of Flowers, enjoy Ferdinand-inspired storytimes throughout the evening, and listen to live music from The Juan Araneda Trio.

Find the full schedule here: https://bit.ly/4cH4NlA

🎶 Live music is generously sponsored by Northampton Jazz Festival.

__
🎨 Robert Lawson, Illustration for The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, 1936. The Morgan Library & Museum, 1970.16:1-37, Gift of the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust. © 1936 Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, renewed 1964 Munro Leaf and John W. Boyd. Used by permission of Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

05/25/2026

Wishing everyone a peaceful Memorial Day 💚

💙 The Carle is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families throughout the summer.

Through Labor Day, September 7, present a military ID at our admissions desk to enjoy free entry. We’re grateful for the opportunity to welcome military families to explore the magic of picture book art together.

https://bit.ly/4dIdjQm

__
🎨 Eric Carle, Illustration for Draw Me a Star. Collection of Eric and Barbara Carle. © 1992 Penguin Random House LLC.

05/22/2026

Imagine opening your Happy Meal and finding one of these Eric Carle-inspired toys 🍟🐛

In 1996, McDonald’s released a series of Happy Meal finger puppets based on Eric Carle’s books. Compare the toys with the original artwork!

These nostalgic collectibles are currently on view in "Small Living Things: The Magical Art of Eric Carle" at Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

🖼️ Don’t miss your chance to see them up close during the exhibition’s final weekend—on view through May 24.
📍 Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA
https://bit.ly/4nGNyop
__
💡 Eric Carle, Illustration for The Very Lonely Firefly. Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © 1995 Penguin Random House LLC.

🐚 Eric Carle, Illustration for A House for Hermit Crab. Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © 1987 Penguin Random House LLC.

🦗 Eric Carle, Illustration for The Very Quiet Cricket. Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © 1990 Penguin Random House LLC.

🐞 Eric Carle, Illustration for Grouchy Ladybug. Collection of the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation. © 1997 Penguin Random House LLC.

Address

125 W Bay Road
Amherst, MA
01002

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(413)5596300

Website

http://www.carlemuseum.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Amherst?