This Colorful Massachusetts Museum Celebrates Picture Book Art

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.

Maybe you've heard of him, even if you don't recognize the pictures from his children's books filled with bold, bright, colorful illustrations and childlike innocence. Does the The Very Hungry Caterpillar ring a bell?

Welcome to the The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.  It's a sprawling interactive museum and campus known as an international champion for picture books, where the curators collect, preserve, and exhibit original illustrations from books we all loved as children that still inspire kids today.

It has film screenings, children's yoga and dance events, an art studio, comedy shows, auctions, celebrations, and changing exhibitions where adults and kids can play.  You can even get married here.

According to the Carle Museum website, this museum was founded by Eric, who passed away last year, and his late wife Barbara, to celebrate and encourage us to read and create art, no matter our age.  It's all about fostering  passion for children’s literature, where so many stories impact us as adults.  The illustrations alone are artistic visions that can inspire us as adults.

Eric Carle was born in 1929 and was one of the best known illustrators of our time, creating more than 70 picture books filled with engaging stories that appeals to kids and adults.  In 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts, was founded.

Click here to plan your visit and learn about all of the children and adult events and fun.  There are also online events here.