The Eric Carle Museum Announces 2015 Carle Honors Honorees
Amherst, MA (March 16, 2015)—The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is pleased to announce the 2015 Carle Honors honorees to be celebrated at Guastavino’s in New York City on Thursday, September 24, 2015. The 10th annual benefit will fête the talented people who have played an instrumental role in making children’s books a vibrant and influential art and literary form in America. This year, the Carle Honors will award the following:
Artist: Helen Oxenbury
Critically acclaimed illustrator, awarded Britain's Smarties Book Prize for We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Quangle Wangle's Hat, and The Dragon of an Ordinary Family.
Angel: The Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University
Represented by Corinna Cotsen and Andrea Immel
International research collection and public resource of illustrated children's books, manuscripts, original artwork, prints, and educational toys dating back to the 15th century; gift of Lloyd E. Cotsen.
Mentor: Neal Porter
Publisher of his own imprint at Roaring Brook Press for the last 14 years and champion of award-winning authors and illustrators for more than 35 years.
Bridge: Joan Bertin
Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship; attorney and author whose articles have appeared in professional books and journals and in the lay press; advocate of free thought, inquiry and expression.
The Carle Honors celebrates individuals and organizations who bring creative vision and long-term dedication to children’s books and the many ways they open children’s minds to art and literacy. The awards are selected each year by a committee chaired by children’s literature historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus, who was central to the founding of the Honors. The committee recognizes four distinct awards: Artist, for lifelong innovation in the field; Angel, whose generous resources are crucial to making illustrated children’s book art exhibitions, education programs, and related projects a reality; Mentor, editors, designers, and educators who champion the art form; and Bridge, individuals who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields.
The Carle Honors is a critical fundraiser for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, helping to support the Museum’s mission to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The annual event also includes a silent auction featuring artwork from top illustrators, including Eric Carle. For ticket and sponsorship information, please contact Rebecca Miller Goggins, Director of Development at 413-658-1118 or rebeccag@carlemuseum.org.
About The Carle:
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy. Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. The Carle houses more than 13,000 objects, including 6,600 permanent collection illustrations. The Carle has three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country and Master’s degree programs in children’s literature with Simmons College. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.
