Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children's Books

This exhibition is the first of its kind to delve into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement as told through picture books. More than 80 artworks evoke the power of the era that shaped American history and continues to reverberate today. Picture the Dream presents three thematic sections exploring the forces that sparked the civil rights movement, its key players and events, and stories about the reemergence of activism in contemporary America. From Brown vs. the Board of Education and the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the March on Washington and Black Lives Matter, the picture books’ topics bridge the past and present, emphasizing how historical moments and leaders continue to inspire the struggle for equal rights. 

 
Picture the Dream is co-organized with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, where the exhibition debuts on August 15, 2020. Curated by Andrea Davis Pinkney, a Carle trustee and New York Times-bestselling and award-winning children’s book author, the exhibition features work by 41 artists including Benny Andrews, Bryan Collier, Raúl Colón, Floyd Cooper, R. Gregory Christie, Ekua Holmes, Kadir Nelson, Brian Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney, Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, and Faith Ringgold.  

Click here to view a list of books in the exhibition.

On the Move with Eric Carle

Planes, trains, and automobiles. Rocket ships and steamships. A horse? Of course! These are some of the ways people and animals move from place to place in Eric Carle’s picture-book illustrations. This exhibition is divided into themes of travel by land, air, and sea, and the artworks represent 15 different titles. Included are Carle’s familiar images from 10 Little Rubber Ducks to linoleum prints from The Boastful Fisherman to small collages from his early reader series of the 1980s.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Hsin-Yi Foundation. 

 

Ashley Bryan in Song

Now 98 years old, the celebrated artist and author Ashley Bryan has committed his life to filling the void of Black representation in children’s literature. A critical part of this work has been sharing the rich heritage of spirituals, miraculous songs of faith and resistance born from the horrors of enslavement. Frustrated when he couldn’t find any collections of spirituals for young readers, Bryan set out to illustrate the songs himself. He has interpreted the lyrics in various media, from linoleum block prints to tempera paint and vibrant cut-paper collages. Bryan has written and spoken extensively on spirituals, and the exhibition is told in his own words. 

Little Books, Big Feelings

Feelings are powerful, mysterious forces. Though we sense them deeply, they can be hard to define. The picture books in this exhibition explore a range of complex emotions. Happiness, grouchiness, grief, anger, and love are just a few of the feelings young visitors and caregivers can learn about. Whether celebrating good times or navigating tougher times, the stories in this show inspire strength and care in readers of all ages. 

Click here to view and purchase books in the exhibition.

 

Asians, Everyday

Click here to view this online exhibition. 

Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Grace Lin curated this online exhibition, launched May 2021 in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Asians, Everyday showcases positive Asian American representation. The selected artworks and books, featuring contemporary characters and stories, celebrate our common humanity by depicting Asian Americans living their everyday lives. The 26 featured artists are: Nabi H. Ali, Carle Angel, Jason Chin, Yangsook Choi, Charlene Chua, Dung Ho, Felicia Hoshino, Melissa Iwai, Aaliya Jaleel, Anna Kim, Julie Kim, Violet Kim, Julia Kuo, Julie Kwon, Khoa Le, Huy Voun Lee, Grace Lin, Ken Min, Joowon Oh, Meenal Patel, Dow Phumiruk, Dan Santat, Anoosha Syed, Taro Yashima, Hyewon Yum, and Taeeun Yoo.

ART in PLACE: Social Distancing in the Studio

Click here to view this online exhibition. 

Launched in May 2020, curator Mo Willems showcases work made by 21 artists during our national shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each artist shares a statement about making art while in isolation, along with photographs of themselves, their studios, and their work. The featured artists are: Beatrice Alemagna, Sandra Boynton, Ashley Bryan, Raúl Colón, Elisha Cooper, Carson Ellis, Marla Frazee, Michaela Goade, Katie Harnett, Vashti Harrison, Ryan T. Higgins, Will Hillenbrand, Hadley Hooper, Julie Morstad, LeUyen Pham, Amber Ren, Dan Santat, Peter Sís, David Small, Melissa Sweet, and Mo Willems. 

ART in PLACE is The Carle's first online exhibition. 
 

Now & Then: Contemporary Illustrators and their Childhood Art

Click here to view this online exhibition. 

Will you grow up to be an artist? Co-curators Grace Lin and Jarrett J. Krosoczka honor childhood creativity in the online exhibition Now & Then, featuring 19 artists' childhood drawings alongside published illustrations. The pairings inspire young visitors to make connections to their current creations—and their future potential. In addition to Grace and Jarrett, the featured artists are Cece Bell, Nidhi Chanani, Jason Chin, The Fan Brothers, Julie Flett, Jeff Kinney, Elisa Kleven, Barbara Lehman, Rafael López, Oge Mora, Juana Martinez-Neal, Raúl the Third, Shadra Strickland, Don Tate, Evan Turk, and Tillie Walden.