Letter from the Founders
Dear Friends:

For many years, it was our dream to help build a museum for children and families, teachers and librarians, scholars and everyone interested in the art of the picture book - a museum to delight, entertain, surprise and educate. Encouraged and supported by family, friends, and over 850 generous contributors to the building project, we were able to make that dream a reality with the opening in November of 2002 of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.

We are extremely pleased and humbled by the Museum's progress to date. In its first four years, the Museum has provided over 250,000 visitors (including over 16,000 children visiting with their schools) the opportunity to discover their own creativity, to explore the connections between visual and verbal literacy, and to acquire the confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind. It has established itself as a premier resource for parents, educators, and librarians interested in the potential of picture book art to transform learning, and has been the recipient of important gifts to the permanent collection from noted national and international picture book artists.

It is our sincere hope that you will help us build upon the momentum of these first critical years by taking full advantage of all that the Museum has to offer and by supporting its important mission in any way that you can.

With best wishes and many thanks for your support and enthusiasm,

Sincerely,

Eric and Barbara Carle