A Love Story and a love song

My book The Very Quiet Cricket is really a love story. For when they find each other, "...he chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard."

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

I am very happy to share that our friend Jim Morrow who is the artist director at The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, the company that produces beautiful black light puppetry productions based on my books, recently received the Mickey Miner Award for outstanding achievement in the field of theatre for young audiences. The award was presented by the US-based International Performing Arts for Youth organization.


I am a great fan of The Mermaid Theatre and have been impressed by their work each time I've been able to see their productions. Here I am talking to Jim on one of his visits to my studio in Massachusetts. I have been captivated by the beauty and magic of Mermaid's black light productions and how they create a delightful performance of the stories while honoring the simplicity and integrity of my books.

I was not familiar with Mermaid's work before they contacted me in the late 1990's to request permission to create black light theatre productions based on my books. But I liked the sensitive way in which they approached and handled the material and in 1998 agreed to their request to create productions based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Quiet Cricket.



Since then, they have produced shows based on numerous other titles and have performed all around the world. These are some recent photos taken of puppets in Mermaid's studio in Nova Scotia.



Here's the link to the schedule for Mermaid's show dates for "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" in Quebec and the West Coast this Spring and the link to the schedule for "Treasured Stories by Eric Carle" show dates coming up in Madison, WI; Springfield, MO; and Memphis, TN. The Mermaid Theatre will also be performing a benefit show for the students of Joplin, MO on March 13, 2012. I hope you will be able to attend one of their productions!

Land of pelicans and palm trees

We are back in Florida and very happy and appreciative of the quiet life we lead here. The sky is blue and the air is warm. Bobbie and I both feel very fortunate to be here in the land of pelicans and lizards, palm trees and sunshine.

Happy 2012!

Happy Holidays!

Dear Friends,
Cheers and warm wishes for a very happy holiday season!
Peace to all,
Eric Carle

What I did in Massachusetts

I spent a week in Massachusetts this fall, and enjoyed a wonderful visit and book signing at The Carle. Here I am with a young friend who waited patiently in line and presented me with his own book project.

And while in Northampton, MA I spent some time working in my old studio in the building where I created many of my books. But it wasn't a book I was working on...here's a little video if you would to see what I was up to.



Photo credit: Kristin Angel
Video credit: Rachel Hass

Carle Honors 2011

The Carle Honors is a very special tradition now. It is The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art's annual celebration and award ceremony and this year's was as delightful as ever and very meaningful to the recipients of the awards, the Museum board of directors and staff, Bobbie and myself and all who care about the Museum. This year the Carle Honors were given to Michael Di Capua (Mentor), Jeanne Steig (Angel), Karen Nelson Hoyle (Bridge) and Lois Ehlert (Artist). Here's a photo taken during the award ceremony that captures the beauty of the building where the elegant event was held for the second time, Guastavino's built under the 59th Street bridge in New York City.


Next year the Museum will be 10 years old and Nancy Schön, who was a Carle Honor recipient in 2010, unveiled her beautiful bronze maquette of The Very Hungry Caterpillar which will be available for sale as part of the Museum's anniversary year. Here I am saying hello to my good friend!



Photos by Johnny Wolf Photography (c) 2011 The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art