I love this picture!
I visited the Eric Carle Museum, and as always, was surprised and delighted by what I saw and what I learned.
Author and illustrator Astrid Sheckels read aloud her new book, Flora and the Jazzers, to a packed audience.
It’s a Cinderella story, set in the 1920’s in a beautiful old hotel. Flora is a scullery maid who loves music. She dreams of going to a concert. When the Jazzers are scheduled to perform, she begs to go, but of course, no. She can hear them practice, and hums and sings along. The Jazzers hear her, and what happens next is the twist and arc in the story. I love this book!
If you’re a book lover or a writer, I highly recommend attending an event with an author!
Did you know Eric Carle liked to bake and cook?
I did not know that! The new Eric Carle exhibit is all about cooking.
Eric Carle often fantasized about being a chef. Food features heavily in Carle’s artwork. Who doesn’t know The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Seeing original illustrations from the book is an incredible experience for someone who has read it to children over and over again for decades.
Here is what I learned: as a child, Eric Carle lived in an apartment house owned by by his grandfather in Stuttgart, Germany. He and his parents lived on the second floor. Carle’s Uncle Walter lived on the ground floor. He was a baker and doted on his nephew. Carle loved the smells and learning about cooking and baking. It’s one of his fondest memories. His book, Walter the Baker is a tribute to his Uncle Walter. It’s a wonderful book!
Another wonderful book is Pancakes, Pancakes.
Every visit to this museum gives me an opportunity to see real art – illustrations that are part of books I read to children. Yes, I’m always moved. I also learn something new at every visit. And their art room, open for visitors to drop in and create, is a trip to heaven.
Of course their bookstore is by far the best one I have visited. Barnes & Noble, move over.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I love attending author events and meeting other authors. I always leave inspired. Flora and the Jazzers looks wonderful! I love that you learn something new about Eric Carle every time you go to the museum. I love to bake too. I guess baking and writing go together for some of us. (I sometimes get ideas while I bake)
I always feel inspired after an author event, too. It’s a wonderful thing. Interestingly, I never expect to learn something new at the museum, but I always do. That’s exciting! Yes, baking and writing go hand in hand! You are proof of that (Carle, too.) 😍
Such fun!
You are a true ambassador for this museum, Jennie. At some point, I will get up there for a visit. It looks like a wonderful place to escape to.
It definitely is! I try to get there three times a year, spring, summer and fall. Winter weather is too harsh in western Massachusetts. If you get there, I’ll join you. Many thanks for your kind words, Dan.
What fun! and NOW I want pancakes…
that might be my favorite picture of you ever! author events are the best, and I love hearing their motivations and stories behind their stories, right from them and being able to talk to them and ask them questions. flora and the jazzers looks like a wonderful book! p.s. I never knew this about Eric Carle, but it makes so much sense when thinking about his books. p.s.s. I was thinking that if you ever retire from teaching, you should consider becoming and docent at the museum and your former students could visit you there, along with you educating everyone who comes in!
I really love the picture, too! Author events are so inspiring, I always enjoy them. This author wrote the Hector Fox series, one of my favorites. When I thought about all the Eric Carle books that have food and cooking, it made sense that he enjoyed it. Also, I would love to be a docent or a reader-aloud at the museum. If only it weren’t an hour and a half away!
A perfect picture and it sounds like the perfect day 🙂 x
It was! I’m so glad you liked my picture, Carol. 😀
Hi Jennie, a lovely post about this museum and Eric Carle’s interest in baking and cooking. The books sound wonderful 🥞
Thank you, Robbie. I’m glad you enjoyed this. I didn’t know about his cooking and baking either, and the books are quite wonderful.
The books are a delight
Yes!
Oh my goodness…a joy-filled way to start my day. I love, love, love that first pic, Jennie! 🥰
It was, indeed! I’m so glad you like my picture, Vicki! 😍
Your butterfly presence is wonderful! 🙂 And the Jazzers book/illustrations seems to track the real trajectory of the life & purposes of the working musician…I must find a copy!
I’m glad you liked my ‘butterfly presence’, Laura. 😀 The book is well researched and so good! I’m sure it’s on Amazon. The illustrations are as good as the story.
What an amazing talent.
Yes!
A fabulous post and love the photo of you with the butterfly too.
Thank you.
A visit must be like bathing in chocolate!
Oh, yes!
It’s a good thing I don’t live near that bookstore or I’d be broke.
I am nearly broke… it’s so good! 😀
Always a smile on my face when I read about your trips to the Eric Carle Museum, Jennie. Thanks for sharing your joy.
Awww… I’m so glad, John. That’s very nice of you to say.
😀
Hurrah for this museum — and for Mr. Carle’s love of baking/cooking!
Yes, and yes!
Yet another delightful visit to your favourite museum. And a new book to enjoy too! Thanks for taking us along, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Pete. Many thanks!
I love the header photo of you as a butterfly. Very appropriate!!
I’m so glad! I couldn’t resist including the photo. Thank you, Liz!
You’re welcome, Jennie!
😀
Isn’t Astrid’s new book gorgeous?! She is so talented. Looks like you had a great day at the museum.
Yes, her new book is gorgeous! There were many subtle things in her illustrations that she talked about, things I had missed. She is so talented. I like this book as much as her Hector Fox books. It was a great day, Marcia. Do you get to the museum?
I’ve only been to that museum once, when I went with Jane Yolen’s picture book boot camp. But, I’ll have to get back there some day. It’s over 2 hours from me, but very doable. 🙂
I’m so glad you have been there, Marcia! I’ve met and heard Jane speak there. When was her picture book boot camp? Gee, I would have loved that. I’m an hour and a half away, yet two is still doable for you.
You can relive my experience at boot camp here: https://marciastrykowski.com/picture-book-boot-camp/ 🙂
Thank you! I just read your fabulous post. Wow! What a wonderful experience, Marcia.
What a grand day out!
Yes! Thank you, FR.
I look forward to your visits to the Eric Carle Museum every year, Jennie. It’s great that they continue to update their exhibits.
I’m so glad you look forward to my museum visits. I go three times a year, spring, summer, and fall, and every time it’s packed with something new and wonderful. Their three exhibits are there for quite a while, but at different times, so the rotation flows. I call it my ‘Eric Carle Museum fix.’ 😀 Thank you, Pete.
Now I’m going to have to find Flora and the Jazzers to read and find out how it ends. I always love reading about your visits to the Eric Carle museum, Jennie.
I bet your library has the book, or can get it for you. You will love it! I’m so glad you enjoy my visits to the Eric Carle Museum. Thank you, Carla!
You look wonderful with those butterfly wings, Jenny. So … YOU! Thanks for sharing another trip to the Eric Carle Museum. Always fun.
Aww… thank you, Diana! I think it really is so me. I’m glad you enjoyed my visit to the museum. Definitely fun – always!
Jennie, you set the bar very high for this post with that opening picture. That butterfly could have my back anytime. Your love for this location shines through here, and I am sure you’re already looking forward to the next visit!
Aww… that’s so nice, Bruce! I do love that photo, too! It’s a great museum, especially for art and book lovers, and of course for Eric Carle fans. Yes, I’m looking forward to my next visit. Many thanks!
Jennie, a lovely book, a fabulous museum, and the best butterfly ever! Hugs.
Thank you, Teagan! 💕
What a great photo of you and the butterfly, Jennie! I’m glad you had a good time at the museum.
I’m so glad you liked the photo, Stevie. It was a great visit.
Such beautiful fun you had at the museum Jennie. I love listening to motivational stories. They are awesome. Thanks a lot 👍👍
You said it well, ‘beautiful fun’, and it was indeed. I like listening to motivational stories, too. I’m so glad you liked this. Thank you, Kamal.
I put Flora and the Jazzers on my wish list. What a lovely book. So glad you enjoyed reading it and vising Eric Carle’s museum.
I’m so glad! The book really is wonderful. Yes, I enjoyed the museum visit. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Always welcome dear Jennie. Have a great weekend ❤️❤️
Best to you, Kamal!
Same to you too dear Jennie.
Hi Jennie, how fun to visit
Eric Carle Museum and then to have the author read was even better.
We loved our Eric Carle books, and had the battery operated one for The Very Lonely Firefly – and one of my favs was “A House for Hermit Crab” which I heard he created for a family member – but I did not hear about Walter the Baker and it seems like a great book.
And guess what else? We have a cassette tape of my MIL reading The Grouchy Ladybug for the kids. It is precious. She also sent us “Today is Monday” – do you know that book – not Eric Carle – but a great book (all you hungry children, come and eat it up).
This is wonderful! I’m so glad you have many of the Eric Carle books and fondly remember them. House For Hermit Crab is one of my favorites. Walter the Baker is a lesser known book, but quite good. The battery operated Firefly book is very popular at school. And you have a cassette recording…priceless! Yes, I know Today is Monday. I’ve seen some of the illustrations at the museum. For me, seeing original illustrations of beloved books is magical. The first time I went to the museum, they had a Madeline exhibit, and yes, I cried (much to the embarrassment of my husband.) 🙂
oh how fun – to imagine your tears from so much book beauty!!
😊
Yes, indeed! 😀
☀️☀️
I like that image of you in front of the Butterfly art too. What a great visit and I didn’t know Carle loved cooking and baking until now. 😊
I love that image, too! It was a great visit, and honestly I did not know Eric Carle loved cooking and baking, either. There’s always something new and wonderful to learn. Thank you, Deborah.
Thank you, Deborah! I didn’t know either until I saw the exhibit. I love my butterfly image! 😀
Thanks for introducing to this very interesting museum, honoring an here in Germany very underrepresented writer. Btw, ou are looking wonderful on the photos, Jenny! Best wishes, Michael
Eric Carle’s life growing up in Nazi Germany is very interesting. The museum is wonderful for children’s books and art lovers. I’m glad you like my photo! Best to you, Michael!
Hello, Jennie! I know a little about Eric Carle, especially from your posts about him. 😉 You are so incredibly experienced and a wonderful teacher with heart and soul! Best wishes to you too! xx Michael
Awww… that is so nice, Michael. Thank you!