Sunday, May 20, 2012

Children's Picture Book Art Museum in your backyard


For those of you who have not had a moment to take your child to our library in Ladysmith, I hope you can come before May 24th. Your visit will be much like a trip to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Massachusetts where artwork for children’s picture book is hung at children’s eye level. If you come and take time to look at the beautiful watercolors by Janelle Thompson that are the current exhibit, you will be nourishing your child’s hunger for beauty and creativity.
Eric Carle is the beloved author and illustrator of many, many picture books for young children. Some of my favorites include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, What Do You See, and Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? Original artwork created for these books are hung in a beautiful gallery that includes other illustrations for picture books. In the museum there is a children’s library for story times and a large room for children to create their own works of art. There is a gift store to purchase books or other interesting objects that tie into picture books for children. It is a wonderful place.
We should all have these experiences in our childhood, and though a trip to Massachusetts may not be possible, your city and county library is definitely within reach. Your child may never be able to meet Eric Carle, but if you come to the library for the artist reception from 4:30-6:00 on Tuesday, May 22nd, you can meet the gifted illustrator that lives in your own backyard. Take an hour and be transported.

We all love you, Little Sprout.
And with this love you’ll grow, no doubt.
You will grow and grow and grow.
We are the trees and we know.

(last verse of the poem Little Sprout, from the picture book by Janelle Thompson and Eileen Ziesler)

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