Press Release Fun: Eric Carle Museum Seeks Public Submissions

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Seeks Public Submissions for its

What’s Your Favorite Animal? Exhibition

(Amherst, MA—March 10, 2014) The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is creating a special exhibition to celebrate the new book, What’s Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle and Friends. The Museum will showcase the original work of the 14 published artists as well as a digital exhibition from friends from around the world.

The Museum is inviting people of all ages to submit a digital image of an original work of art depicting your own favorite animal. Submissions will be available on a digital screen in the gallery from April 8-August 31 and will be included in an online exhibition that will live on our museum’s blog. Those interested in sharing their favorite animals should submit high-resolution JPG images acceptable for viewing online. Submissions will be accepted from now until August 1, 2014.

“We are thrilled to welcome people’s favorite animal drawings,” says Alexandra Kennedy, executive director. “Since we have posted the project to our website, we have heard from people as far away as Italy. We look forward to welcoming people’s artwork and being able to showcase it with our friends around the world.”

All royalties from What’s Your Favorite Animal?, published by Holt and Company, benefit The Carle and its educational programs.

Submission Information

For submission instructions and guidelines, see www.carlemuseum.org (or for a direct link, go to http://carlemuseum.org/content/whats-your-favorite-animal-project).

About the Book

Published by Henry Holt and Company and released on January 21, 2014, What’s Your Favorite Animal? features distinctive illustration and imaginative answers to the classic question posed by its title. Contributors are Nick Bruel, Eric Carle, Lucy Cousins, Susan Jeffers, Steven Kellogg, Jon Klassen, Tom Lichtenheld, Peter McCarty, Chris Raschka, Peter Sís, Lane Smith, Erin Stead, Rosemary Wells, and Mo Willems. All royalties from the book will benefit The Carle and its educational programs.

The book has already gained acclaim from children’s book critics, including a starred review in Publishers Weekly. A review in Kirkus concludes: “This menagerie offers picture-book lovers of all ages a glimpse into each creator’s style, personality and brand of humor.” Stories range from the sentimental, like Rosemary Wells’ ode to her pet terrier, to the whimsical, such as Tom Lichtenheld’s poem about what to do when meeting a giraffe, to the downright absurd—Nick Bruel’s description of an octopus is rudely interrupted by his recurring character Bad Kitty.

“To see how each contributor answers the question in his or her own unique way is delightful and surprising and will surely inspire young readers to answer the question for themselves!” says Laura Godwin, vice president and publisher for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. The “What’s Your Favorite Animal?” Project will surely reveal many colorful, creative, and wide-ranging answers from around the world.

            About the Museum

The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy. 

Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION    For additional press information and/or images, please contact Sandy Soderberg, Marketing Manager (413) 658–1105 / sandys@carlemuseum.org

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Sandy Soderberg

Marketing Manager

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

125 West Bay Road

Amherst, MA  01002

t (413) 658-1105

f (413) 658-1139

sandys@carlemuseum.org

http://www.carlemuseum.org

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