The Enrichment of Eric Carle (at Half Price)
Today is Wednesday. Wednesday has a new ring to it now that I’m hosting story time every week at 10:30 am on behalf of Half Price Books in the Humble location’s Half Pint section.
It was a quiet crowd today, only three children munching on the provided snack, listening to Duckie Duck by Kate Toms and Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle, to name a few. It is always a pleasure seeing the younger crowd fall in love with books and enjoy a calming sit down with the work of our favorite authors, but today I found myself doing what I used to love best about working in a bookstore again – I was educating.
Kids and parents alike enjoy someone guiding them in their discoveries, just as when I am shopping, I too love for retailers to point out their favorites, clerks to tell me what they’ve been reading lately. Today as I read Mister Seahorse, I got to share the fact that Eric Carle has a museum in Massachusetts, a fact few families seem to know down here in Texas, but almost all respond with wide eyes and dropped jaws. ‘That sounds amazing!’ I often hear people saying. I agree, and I plan to take my daughter there one day on a vacation.
The beauty of The Eric Carle Museum, which feeds my desire to take my child there, aside from the art itself, is their mission:
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is to inspire, especially in children and their families, an appreciation for and an understanding of the art of the picture book. In fulfilling our mission, we aspire to build bridges to an appreciation of art of every kind and to provide an enriching, dynamic, and supportive context for the development of literacy. We deliver this mission by collecting, presenting and celebrating the art of the picture book from around the world and by providing interactive experiences and programs that are engaging and educational.
Humble HPB Half Pint Section
That same mission, building a bridge of art appreciation and developing literacy, is how I choose my child’s books in the first place. It’s not enough to have an amazing story but boring art, it’s also not enough to have amazing illustrations and a terrible story. The building blocks for enriching a child’s mind are in a smooth marriage of those two things and Eric Carle has always seemed to manage that joining.
I hope, by choosing books to read and presenting them to children each week as part of my Event Coordinating duties, Half Price Books can be a venue for which I can share these kinds of books with new minds, and this mission with other parents – at half the price.
Anakalian Whims 
Stephanie said,
February 9, 2012 at 3:21 am
The next time I visit Texas, I know where I’m going! My boyfriend loves Eric Carle, so I’ll be sure to take him along. Lovely little post!
Anakalian Whims said,
February 9, 2012 at 3:40 am
The museum is actually in Massachusetts, but Texas would love to have you anyway!
Stephanie said,
February 10, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Oof, read that sentence wrong! Thanks for correcting me lol. 🙂
Nicole said,
February 9, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I’ve been to the museum. I went during the 40th anniversary/Eric Carle’s 80th birthday. The other exhibit was Virginia Lee Burton. My post about it is here: http://www.hemingwayheroine.blogspot.com/search/label/museum.
But I didn’t really get to do any of the hands-on kids stuff. It’s really a great place to bring children. I can’t wait to go back again with my own and explore EVERY part of the museum.
amy @ kids in the studio said,
February 10, 2012 at 7:43 pm
The Carle tweeted this post, which is how I landed here. It’s a FABULOUS museum. We’re about 2 1/2 hours by car but have made the round trip several times. But if you’re traveling to that part of Massachusetts, there’s plenty else to do to make it worth your while there & throughout New England. The museum’s website is also a great resource. 🙂
Anakalian Whims said,
February 10, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Thanks for telling me! I didn’t even think to check to see if they had a twitter account 🙂