The Promise and Power of Picture Book Art

At our recent Carle Honors gala, I listened to opening remarks by best-selling author and the 2025–26 U. S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Mac Barnett. His words affirmed our work at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, why it matters so profoundly, and why your support makes all the difference. 

Mac called The Carle “a gift to American and world literary culture.” He went on to state: 

“The picture book is one of the greatest ways to share stories that humans have come up with… Some of the best books published in the last 100 years are children’s picture books. [They] borrow from so many other art forms: theatre, dance, music, and the oldest human art: Telling stories out loud.” 

Picture books are vessels of imagination, identity, empathy, and justice. Picture book art opens doors to discovery and connects us to one another across generations, cultures, and perspectives. 

In closing, Mac called on us to “Go forth and proclaim the power of the picture book!”   

Today, I invite you to join us and answer that call. Your support this year will allow us to: 

• Curate vibrant exhibitions that honor all voices and invite visitors of all ages into worlds created by picture book artists.
• Expand our outreach to all communities, bringing bilingual storytimes, book giveaways, and joyful literacy experiences to children who too often go without.
• Support artist residencies and youth workshops that help illustrators, writers, and young creators explore the dynamic interplay of image, word, and movement.
• Strengthen educational partnerships with schools, libraries, and community centers, providing training, resources, and programming that nurture a lifelong love of reading and art. 

When you invest in picture book art, you invest in children’s imaginations and their capacity to dream, to understand themselves, and to see the world with empathy. 

This year, your gift can have twice the impact. The Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation has generously offered a $500,000 matching challenge grant for all new or increased gifts to the Museum.* That means your donation, whether $50, $250, $1,000, or more, could go twice as far in championing picture books and their transformative art, ensuring that every child has access to their wonder, beauty, and power. 

Please consider making your generous gift today.

Watch a short video about the Museum’s impact

Thank you for believing in The Carle, for believing in stories, for believing in children, and for standing with us in this joyful, essential work. 

*If you aren’t sure about your last donation to The Carle, contact our development team at development@carlemuseum.org.