Mo Willems Exhibit Debuts at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh in 2018

PITTSBURGH (April 26, 2017)--Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art are proud to announce a new partnership to co-organize The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh: A Mo Willems Exhibit, inspired by the art and characters of beloved children's book author and illustrator Mo Willems.  

The exhibit, debuting February 2018 at the Children's Museum, will invite visitors into the imagination, whimsy, and humor of Mo Willems. Many familiar characters will be featured, including best friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon, the wily city bird best known for his antics in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Activities will give children the opportunity to make art that is inspired by Mo Willems and to learn about the rich social and emotional lives of the author's characters. The exhibit will also feature prints of illustrations, including works in progress, by Mo Willems.

In Summer 2018, the exhibit will begin its tour to museums and libraries in cities across the country.

"We're so excited to reconnect with The Eric Carle Museum," said Jane Werner, Executive Director of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. "Its commitment to preserving and growing the art forms of illustration and storytelling are so important in this fast-paced day and age."

The two institutions first joined forces in 2015 to produce Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit based on the five-book series about insects by Eric Carle. The exhibit is breaking attendance records at museums as it tours across North America through 2021.

"Mo's work came to the top of our list when we talked about the next exhibition we wanted to mount," adds The Carle's Executive Director Alexandra Kennedy. "His style appears so simple but there is so much contained within that distillation--outrageous comedy, a child's eye view, and important revelations about kindness and acceptance."

The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh: A Mo Willems Exhibit will premiere at Children's Museum of Pittsburgh February 17 through May 2018, and be available for rent immediately thereafter. For information on renting this and other Children's Museum's traveling exhibits, please contact the Museum's Exhibits department at (412) 322-5058, ext. 229, or exhibits@pittsburghkids.org.