A trip to the Eric Carle Museum is my ray of sunshine, my inspiration. Seeing original art illustrations and finding new children’s books gives me joy. This summer visit was wonderful of course, and filled with new discoveries.
The lobby in the museum is wide with floor to ceiling windows on one side and four gigantic murals on the other side, each painted by Eric Carle in a different style and color. I thought a video might give you a sense of the magnitude of this art.
Striking, isn’t it?
There are always three exhibits, and hanging in the lobby is a banner of each exhibit.
The Art of Grace Lin
The Art of Endpapers
Eric Carle and Ann Beneduce
I was excited!
Grace Lin is a well-known children’s author and illustrator. She was one of the first authors to bring diversity and her Chinese culture into books and stories. As always, seeing the real art from beloved children’s books is quite a moving experience.
Endpapers are the illustrations inside the book cover. They are as detailed and fascinating as the text illustrations in the book. I discovered endpapers when I was introducing my preschool children to Eric Carle books back in 2018. As I opened each book to read to the children, I realized the endpapers in every book were different.
Yes, in every book!
That was a huge discovery for me. Thank you, Eric Carle. After that, I paid attention to endpapers in every book. I now make sure I show the endpapers to children when I read books to them.
You can imagine how excited I was to see the Art of Endpapers exhibit!
This is the original endpaper for Blueberries For Sal. Big wow!
This is the original endpaper for
The World of Pooh, by A.A.Milne
illustrated by E.H. Shepard.
I spent a long time looking at this one.
Was I overwhelmed? Yes.
Endpapers have become even more sophisticated, where the opening of the book is ‘the beginning’ and the closing of the book is ‘the end’.
If You Come to Earth, by Sophie Blackall
is a classic and beautiful example,
here to there, or morning to night.
Ryan Higgins’ endpapers in his Penelope Rex books
are actual children’s drawings.
The clothesline goes from the front to the back of the book.
Eric Carle‘s legendary editor and lifelong friend was Ann Beneduce. She was masterful in bringing his books to life. Her recommendations and editing were instrumental in his success. If it hadn’t been for Ann, The Very Hungary Caterpillar might have remained as Willie the Worm.
Seeing The Very Hungry Caterpillar
never gets old.
House For Hermit Crab
is a book I often read to children.
Seeing these illustrations was a marvel for me.
While the exhibit had many of Eric Carle’s illustrations, I was struck by his art with acrylic painted aluminum foil. It was beautiful! I was nearly nose-to-nose, staring.
Can you imagine a visit to a museum where everything is familiar, yet new and exciting? If you are an art lover or a children’s book lover, this is THE museum.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Always a joy to be shown around that wonderful museum by you, one of his greatest fans. (Off topic, our grandson has been here since Saturday, and he has read ‘The Poet’s Dog’ that I bought for him on your recommendation. He is 10 years old, and he really ‘got’ the story.)
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks so much, Pete. And, I’m SO glad your grandson ‘got it.’ 🙂
Wow what a wonderful experience did you take Gloria 💜💜
It was! No, Gloria is at the ‘spa’ (dry cleaners), getting all spiffed up for school.
Oh! My Gloria I am so envious 😻😻😻
😍
What a great day out you had! Love seeing all the art!
It was! So glad you enjoyed the art. Thank you, FR.
What a feast!
A fascinating post.
Thanks for sharing, Jennie.
Many thanks, Cynthia. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
Eric Carle’s art is wonderful — such vibrant colors! Your post brings me back to reading his books to my two daughters, and the joy we had 🌞
Yes, his art is wonderful and vibrant. I’m lucky to see the ‘real deal’ up close. I’m glad this brought you memories of reading his books to your girls. Thank you, Dave.
Amazing! Having grown in in the 90s, Eric Carle has a very special place in my heart.
I’m so glad! I think he has a special place in many hearts.
I love seeing posts of your visits there and it’s on my lists of travel dream visits. I hope we can meet there one day. I love end papers!
YES, YES!! If you ever get to western Massachusetts, I’ll be there with you. Oh, we’ll have a blast! Interestingly, when the lightbulb went off discovering his endpapers years ago, endpapers were not something noteworthy for any other author/illustrator. Since then, they have exploded. I guess Eric Carle was ahead of his time. 🙂
Your video sweep of the canvases mounted on the gallery walls is a great ‘teaching moment’!!! Especially as they ‘bleed’ outside the camera frame. Why? In this day and age, while art is more easily accessible via internet articles/photos/etc…it all ‘lives’ in the realm of the tiny screen and is also easily dismissed with the swipe of the finger.
True (he)art is bigger than that! And going ‘nose-to-nose’ on those aluminum foil strips is part of how it touches us! Pun intended. 😦
Thanks for sharing your latest ‘ray of sunshine’ visit with us.
Laura, I don’t know why I’ve never done a video sweep of his magnificent murals before. Your comment is perfectly and brilliantly said. And those aluminum strips…I stared for a long time. I wish everyone could see his work. I’m so glad you enjoyed my ray of sunshine.😀
Endpaper for Winnie is great.
thanks for the museum ride-a-long, Jennie
That was my favorite, Don. I’m glad you enjoyed the museum ride-a-long. 🙂
delightful
Thank you, Annette!
How nice to have this museum nearby for visits!
Yes, indeed!
That must have been amazing!
Yes, it was. Thank you.
How fun! Sounds like I need to add this museum to my bucket list.
I hope you do! It’s in western Massachusetts
I will make it to this museum at some point, Jennie. I love the reports of all your visits.
I hope you do, Dan. Of course I will meet you there! If you go on their website carlemuseum.org you can check out the exhibits, etc.
Hi Jennie, a delightful tour of this museum. The murals are lovely. I must be more observant about end papers.
Hi Robbie, I’m glad you enjoyed the museum tour. I never paid attention to endpapers until I realized years ago all of Eric Carle’s endpapers are different. I was blown away. I think he set the stage for endpapers, because now they are sophisticated and often tell a story.
It’s wonderful that he started a trend 💛
Yes, it is!
Something about his artistry–you can tell what is his. No AI could reproduce “in the spirit of Eric Carle”.
Didn’t know about endpaper. Interesting.
Yes! You are absolutely right, Jacqui. You can tell. Endpapers are very interesting and add a subtle, beautiful element to the story.
Oh my goodness! Jennie…I had no idea that endpapers could vary! Wow! Thank you for all of this. A treat this morning, for sure! 🥰
I had no idea either, until I noticed Carle’s endpapers years ago. He set the stage, and now they have become a storyteller alongside the book. Thank you, Vicki!
Thank you, dear one! 🥰
You are very welcome!
What a treat, Jennie. Thank you for sharing the photos and videos.
You are welcome, John. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
😊
Wonderful post, Jennie! A grand treat, waiting for new visitors to the museum!
Yes! Thank you, Cathy.
A fun post, Jennie. I remember your other visits and enjoyed some of the new photos. The place and the art exude joyfulness. 🙂
Thank you, Diana. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. The museum and the art really do exude joyfulness – I can attest to that!
I always enjoy “our” visits to the Eric Carle museum!
I’m so glad, Liz!
😊
What wonderful displays. How fortunate you are to have this close by!.
Yes, indeed! Thank you, Darlene.
This is all so wondrous, Jennie! I’ve been doing story times at my library with a wonderful volunteer mom who loves Eric Carle. I can’t wait to share this with her!
Oh, that is wonderful! I hope you share!
Need to visit there sometime. I’ve always heard great things.
I hope you get there one day, Brian. Best to you.
I love the art display, Jennie! I always look for new art projects for my 7 and 5 year old granddaughters. I may try the first painted aluminum foil project.
I’m so glad you liked the art! I have not been brave enough to try the painted aluminum, but it is stunning. Let me know how it goes with your granddaughters.
I have to think of a safe way to do it, Jennie! Thin aluminum maybe sharp. Even if I use thicker one, I need to file the corners. Hubby and I went to the coast and visited some glass shops. I’m thinking of doing some easy “stained glass” projects with the girls.
Ooo… that project sounds wonderful! Stained glass might be safer or easier than the aluminum.
I’ve had the joy of reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to two generations. And yes, I sort of registered the colourful Endpapers, but didn’t really comprehend how much of thing they were until I read this article. Thank you for showing the fabulous art in such detail and reminding me of some truly magical moments, Jennie:)).
Hi Sarah, I’m so glad you enjoyed reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to your children and grandchildren. Honestly, I never noticed endpapers until I discovered them in Eric Carle’s books. I think he paved the way, and now they’re sophisticated. I have big smiles that you enjoyed the art and reminisced about some magical moments. 😀 Many thanks!
How exciting! I learned something new today about endpapers! I’m going to go through my little collection and look at the endpapers.
I remember the day I discovered Carle’s endpapers. Can you imagine that they were different in every one of his books? The exhibit not only showed many endpapers, but also how sophisticated they have become – like the front cover being morning, and the back cover being night. Wow! Let me know what you find in your book collection. Thank you, Deborah.
Hi Jennie, thank you for a wonderful post!
You’re welcome, Charles. I’m glad you liked it.
Visiting from Sally’s website.
Thank you for sharing thus visit. Eric Carle was a favorite when our children were tiny. I have never seen art with acrylic painted aluminum foil. This was a first. 🙂
Thank you for reading, Patricia. I’m glad Eric Carle was a favorite in your household. I’d never seen his aluminum painting, either. Big wow!
What a joy to see this wonderful museum of art and books Jennie. Thanks a lot for your valuable post 👍👍👍
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kamal!
You are always welcome dear Jennie. Have a wonderful weekend ❤️❣️
Thank you, Kamal! Happy weekend.
You are always welcome dear Jennie ❤️❤️
Thank you, Kamal.
You are always welcome dear Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
You are always welcome dear Jennie 💞
Thank you, Kamal!
Welcome Jennie 😊
😍
What an amazing museum. I think i should visit it too. Maybe in my next life. 😉 Thanks for this great tour through the exhibition, Jennie! Best wishes, Michael
Honestly, if you get there, I will join you. It is amazing. I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Michael!
Thanks for sharing another wonderful exhibit to the Eric Carle Museum, Jennie. I have only recently been paying attention to end papers and they are definitely an integral part of a book.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Carla. Endpapers have become quite sophisticated. Often the front is a beginning, like a sunrise, and the end is like a sunset. I find myself looking at the endpapers of every children’s book I read.