Upcoming Exhibitions
IN THE West Gallery
Eric Carle Makes a Book
“As I work on the book, I love it. I hate it. I think it’s awful, and I think it’s wonderful,” says Eric Carle. This exhibition explores Carle’s story inspirations and how he turns his ideas into published books. An in-depth look at four beloved titles—From Head to Toe (1997), “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” Said the Sloth (1999), The Very Clumsy Click Beetle (2002), and 10 Little Rubber Ducks (2005)—takes visitors through the book-development process, from Carle’s thumbnail sketches to his final collages. Also on view are alternate book covers, unpublished artwork, and seven book ideas that were never made—and never before shared with the public.
This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Hsin-Yi Foundation, with additional support from Penguin Young Readers.
Exhibition design by Katie Craig.
IN THE Central Gallery
William Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble: A Golden Anniversary
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble has held a special place in readers hearts for 50 years. Contemporary illustrators often cite the book as their greatest childhood influence. The Carle is fortunate to have in its permanent collection Steig’s preliminary sketches, story boards, and dummy books related to the seminal publication, thanks to the generosity of Jeanne Steig who donated over 1,000 artworks by her late husband. The artist’s daughter Maggie Steig is lending the original published illustrations along with her father’s paints, tools, personal family photographs, and his prized Caldecott Medal. The Carle designed a charming tableau vivant of Steig’s picnic scene—including a “Sylvester boulder”—to engage visitors of all ages.
IN THE East Gallery
The Picture Book Odysseys of Peter Sís
Over a 30-year career in children’s literature, Peter Sís has invited readers of all ages to join him on incredible journeys. His books follow the real-life adventures of Christopher Columbus, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and Czech explorer Jan Welzl, and he charts the remarkable lives of scientists Galileo Gallilei and Charles Darwin. Sís also transports readers to the ancient, magical city of Prague in The Three Golden Keys and explores its political past in The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. He chronicles his father’s two-year odyssey in the Himalaya Mountains in Tibet Through the Red Box, and creates a modern-day fairytale in Madlenka. This exhibition showcases more than 80 original illustrations from 25 picture books, from Sís’s exquisitely detailed paintings of historical narratives to the bold graphics of his early readers.
This exhibition is made possible with generous support from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Exhibition design by Katie Craig.
