With over 90% of the brain’s capabilities developing before formal schooling starts, let’s make sure that we’re providing the best literacy experiences we can for our youngest readers by sharing books of the highest quality.

Eric Carle’s many books provide that quality from the beauty of his illustrations to the structure of his texts. Mr. Carle has been involved in writing and illustrating over seventy books (http://www.eric-carle.com/ECbooks.html#anchor034). From illustrating the perennial favorite Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? (1967) to writing and illustrating another classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) Mr. Carle’s books continue to fill the shelves of both book stores and libraries.

Check out the sturdy board book versions of his books for our youngest readers as they learn how to turn pages and focus on vibrant illustrations. Great baby gifts!

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts looks like it would be a marvelous experience for the entire family. Check out the museum’s website (http://www.eric-carle.com/museum.html).

Mr. Carle quotes a letter from a father about his most recent book, Friends:

The father said to his child, “This is a picture book for children. His child said, “No, it’s an art book for children.”