Eric Carle : Art, Books, and the Caterpillar

April 4 - July 26, 2026

This exhibition is a retrospective of the work of Eric Carle (1929–2021), one of America’s most renowned picture book authors, perhaps best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Japanese edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this exhibition features approximately 180 objects, including original artwork from 27 picture books, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969), Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me! (1986), Ten Little Rubber Ducks (2005), and other works. Also on view are graphic designs from Carle’s early career, dummy books created during the initial conceptualization phase, and colored and patterned paper that Carle used for his signature collages. Visitors will experience the warmth and joy of Carle’s stories through vibrantly colored original artworks, as they explore the ingenuity of children’s book design.

This exhibition is organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. 

Schedule 

April 25 – July 26, 2026
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

October 23 – December 20, 2026
Fukuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukuoka, Japan

March 20 – May 9, 2027
Abeno Harukas Art Museum, Osaka, Japan

Exhibition Website
Poster design with caterpillar.

Featured Artists

Photograph of Eric Carle smiling.

Eric Carle

Eric Carle illustrated brilliant and innovatively designed picture books for children, including his most well-known title, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In 2002, Carle and his wife, Barbara, co-founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Artist website