Recent Acquisition: Jerry Pinkney's The Lion & the Mouse

September 7, 2024 - April 6, 2025
West Gallery
Illustration of a mouse.

Jerry Pinkney, Illustration for The Lion & the Mouse (Little, Brown Books). Gift of Gloria Pinkney. © 2009 Jerry Pinkney. 

Jerry Pinkney changed the course of children’s literature with his brilliant watercolor illustrations. As a founding trustee of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Pinkney’s own work closely aligned with the Museum’s belief in the power of visual literacy. 

As a visual storyteller, Pinkney often reinterpreted classic tales by challenging stereotypes, recasting characters, and imagining new settings. For his Caldecott-winning adaptation of Aesop’s timeless fable The Lion and the Mouse (2009), Pinkney took the courageous step to let the artwork speak for itself. 

To celebrate the arrival of the iconic cover for The Lion and the Mouse at the Museum, and in honor of those who made this important acquisition possible, the Carle is presenting a selection of original artwork from this seminal publication.  

What to Expect

This special installation features the front and back images for the iconic book jacket, as well as two interior spreads and one preliminary sketch.  

Illustration of mouse in lion's footprint.

Jerry Pinkney, Illustration for The Lion & the Mouse (Little, Brown Books). Gift of Gloria Pinkney. © 2009 Jerry Pinkney. 

Explore Further
Current Exhibition
September 7, 2024 - September 7, 2025

A shared love of art and books.