I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley

December 18, 2021 - June 12, 2022
East Gallery
You know what I love to hear the kids say? ‘I could do that!’
Ed Emberley

Ed Emberley never considered himself an illustrator. Rather, he thinks of himself as a bookmaker. He loves to design every aspect of a book, eagerly hand-lettering text, including the publisher’s information! Always experimental, Emberley also makes books using innovative techniques. See-through paper, stickers, stencils, die cuts, optical illusions, clip art, and flip books are just a few of the formats he uses. Emberley easily shifts artistic styles from technically precise engineer drawings to playful thumbprints he transforms with line drawings into witches, cats, owls, and flowers. Throughout his books, he sprinkles humor and wordplay.

Curated by Caleb Neelon.

The Eric Carle Museum is grateful for the support and cooperation of the entire Emberley family, Hosea Baskin, and Tim Young of the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale University, who were all instrumental in making this exhibition a reality. The Emberley family plans to donate a portion of Ed’s archive to The Carle.

What to Expect

This exhibition showcases Emberley’s remarkable printmaking and drawing talents in more than 20 books. On view is original art from his Caldecott Medal-winning Drummer Hoff (1967), his popular Drawing Book series from the 1970s, the never-before-seen Picture Pie (1984), and much more. Sketches, handmade book dummies, printing supplies, and color separations provide a glimpse into the methods and career of one of America’s great picture-book illustrators.

Remote video URL
Ryan Shea-Paré, The Dandelion, animation after Ed Emberley’s flip book “6 Nature Adventures.” Courtesy of the artist. Animation © Ryan Shea-Paré and illustrations © Ed Emberley.
Illustration of turtle and peacock constructed from color pie-shaped stickers.
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Picture Pie (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. © 1984 Ed Emberley.
Explore Further
Story Board
The hardest part about being an Ed Emberley fan is keeping up with him. 
News & Press

Lions, tigers, bears…and vampires! Ed Emberley takes readers on drawing adventures.

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Make creatures out of thumbprints and drawing tools!
Making Art Together
Learn how guests are making work inspired by Ed Emberley’s stamp creations!
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A special gallery tour just for Museum Members! (Program is full)
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A virtual tour of The Carle’s special exhibition, I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley.

In the Bookshop

Drummer Hoff

Picture Pie

Go Away, Big Green Monster!

Ed Emberley

Big Green Drawing Book

One Wide River to Cross