Eric Carle
Every visit to the Eric Carle Museum is a wonder, because I always discover something new. I know what the current exhibits are and I plan my visit…but something ‘else’ happens along the way. This visit was about the man himself, Eric Carle. Don’t you love his photo? It’s life size.
The side hallway at the museum has a permanent display about his life. I’m so glad, as everyone should know how he and his family moved back home to Germany in the 30’s just when the Nazis took over, and how his art teacher risked his life to show Carle ‘forbidden art’ by ‘degenerate artists’ – Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, Matisse, Marc and others.
I tell this story to everyone and anyone who will listen. There is too much hate in the world, then and now, and Herr Krauss stood up for what was right. Did you ever wonder why Eric Carle’s horse in Brown Bear, Brown Bear is blue? Franz Marc’s famous Large Blue Horses painting, of course. That must have been one of the paintings Herr Krauss showed Carle. Every year my class does an Art Show for the community, and one of the popular paintings children want to replicate is Large Blue Horses.
Did you know that the end papers in every Eric Carle book are different? Every one. That is a work of art in itself for each book.
Carle’s latest exhibit is Environmental Eric Carle.
He was passionate about the environment and found deep inspiration in the natural world. The Tiny Seed is one of my favorite books and children love it, too. They understand seasons and survival, and how a seed becomes a flower. I have read it countless times to children. To be ‘there’, nose-to-nose with the original art from a beloved book is both humbling and exhilarating.
Here are two of the original works of art for the book. I could get up close and see how tissue paper was layered. I was ‘one’ with the art!
Much of the art on exhibit he was commissioned to do was art of endangered animals. There are many in the exhibit, from sea turtles, to the giant panda, to the black rhino and the lion, and wild mustangs.
Best of all, I discovered a book that is new to me! Children’s books are my passion, and this one is at the top of the list:
This is a step above Brown Bear, Brown Bear, because the verb with each animal changes. Instead of “looking at me” for each animal, there is “gliding by me” and much more for each different animal. Yes, I bought the book! The museum’s bookstore is the best, they have books I have found nowhere else. Books are treasures.
Thank you to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I loved your post!
I love Eric and Franz Marc. I didn’t know there was a museum
Thank you. The museum is in Amherst, Massachusetts. It’s a gem!
This is just wonderful, Jennie!
Thank you, Ritu! 💕
I love the photo and plan to visit the museum
Hooray! I would love to join you, Beth. 😀
Your new book looks awesome. How lucky you are to have this museum so close to you. Such a talented man!
Yes, all the way around! Thank you, Darlene.
Cheers to anyone committed to fighting hate! Love the paintings. 🙂
Yes, indeed! Thank you, Frank.
🧡
This museum looks upbeat as well as informative. Thanks for taking us along with you. The new book looks cute as the, forget about bees, the bear’s knees! 😁
Thanks, Ally. It is! Love ‘the bear’s knees’. 😀
Lovely tribute to art, and Eric 🙂
Thank you, FR!
I love Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Littlest is reading it aloud all the time these days.
The artwork is wonderful. I agree thanks for taking us along with your post.
I’m so glad the littlest loves the book. He will love Baby Bear, Baby Bear!!! Yes, such wonderful artwork! Best to you, Deborah.
What an interesting man. Sure makes it an adventure to read his books with all his tricks likee gluing paged together,
Love the child’s Blue Horses, Jennie.
You have that right, Don. Such a creative talent. That child spent days working on his blue horse art. I hope Franz Marc was smiling from above.
What’s interesting is that I am seeing paint-stained pants all over New York..a new fashion trend I guess because they weren’t house painters, they were hipsters!
That is really interesting! The museum had the cover of Time Magazine after he died, and it was his paint splattered shoes. Quite moving!
Every time you visit that museum, your enthusiasm and delight is so infectious, I feel as if I was there with you.
Best wishes, Pete.
Aww…I’m so glad! Thanks, Pete. If I win the lottery I’ll get you a ticket to America. Beth wants to go to the museum, we could make it a threesome. 😍
My kids and grandsons all loved his books. Happy Thanksgiving Jennie.
I’m so glad! Happy Thanksgiving, Cindy!
sniff, you make me smile and happy cry; he was such a gem and a gent. I see they’re trying to recreate a mammoth from ancient DNA; could they maybe do a Carle next?
That’s wonderful to hear, smiles and happy cries are a good thing! He really was a gem. I was lucky to meet him, and even luckier to read his books to children. I definitely think they should do a Carle next. 😀
I look froward to your visits each time because I know you’ll share something new with us from the museum. What a special place!
I always find something new, which surprises me in the best of ways. I’m so glad you enjoy what I share after my visits! It’s definitely a special place. Best to you, Pete.
Thank you for this visit to the Eric Carle Museum. The story of his discovery of art goes to why art instruction is needed in the schools. I love his portrait at the beginning of the post. He looks very puckish.
Hi Liz, glad you enjoyed my visit! You are right, his is a case in point why art instruction should be in schools. The life-size portrait is new (to me), and I loved it, too. There was a picture of Time Magazine’s cover when he died, and it was simply his paint spattered shoes. Nice!
To think of the number of lives Carle’s work touched gives me goosebumps! The arts should never be underestimated or given short shrift.
Hear, hear!
Thanks for taking us along, Jennie.
Glad you joined us! 🙂
Beautiful art, Jennie. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Thank you, Steve! The art is beautiful, and seeing ‘the real deal’ up close is a thrill.
“when the Nazis took over…his art teacher risked his life to show Carle ‘forbidden art’ by ‘degenerate artists’ – Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, Matisse, Marc and others.”
May we as keepers & lovers of knowledge, art, music, literature, science, etc have such fortitude & resolve when confronted with similar ‘bans’….
Just sayin’…
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Art can unlock the inspiration that is deep inside each of us.
My goodness, your words hit the nail on the head. I often think of Eric Carle and his teacher showing him ‘forbidden art’. What an inspiration. When I saw the Haitian quilts at the Bennington Museum in Vermont, I had the same experience, and we all know what happened. I will always show art to children, because someone will be inspired. Thank you, Pam.
I love Eric Carle. Thank you so much for the history behind the man and his art!
You are welcome. So glad you enjoyed this!
How lovely to visit the Eric Carle Museum with you Jennie. Thank you for the invitation. I love that life size portrait of him.
Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle – such a magic combination.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Norah. You should have seen me when I saw that life size portrait. I stood, stared, and smiled for a long time. Yes, that combo was magical. I think most people think Carle wrote Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
I can just imagine how you felt, Jennie. It really is magic to be in such a presence, even when he’s not physically there, his spirit remains.
You are exactly right, Norah!
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Keep bringing colour into the world Jennie!!
Will do!
Hi Jennie, a great visit and a new book that you haven’t read is very special.
Yes on both counts! Very special, indeed. Thank you, Robbie.
I wasn’t familiar with this, Jennie. What wonderful fun. Happy Thanksgiving and big hugs.
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Teagan! Happy Thanksgiving and big hugs to you. 💕