I See a Story: The Art of Eric Carle

The creator of more than seventy books, Eric Carle combines winsome stories and exuberant collages that appeal to young readers and adults alike. The exhibition presents original artwork spanning five decades of Carle’s picture-book career. On view are illustrations ranging from his 1967 collaboration Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?  to Friends, his heartwarming story published in 2013, and many familiar titles in between.

While Carle’s stories are charming, they’re layered with information too. As children read his books about animals, families, and fables, they also learn their colors, numbers, and letters. Carle makes learning accessible and fun—and in the process, he invites children to fall in love with books. I See a Story celebrates Carle’s contributions to art and children’s literature. 

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

Whether you go or not, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?,  is a Carle classic, suitable for 2-5 year olds. The gentle rhyming and gorgeous, tissue-paper collage illustrations in this picture book make it a dog-eared favorite on many children's bookshelves. On each page, we meet a new animal who nudges us onward to discover which creature will show up next. Eric Carle's good-humored style and colorful, bold illustrations have earned him a prominent place in the children's book hall of fame.