Carle Museum & Hitchcock Center Come Together for Amphibians

Dreams do come true! I was so honored to be invited for special story time at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on February 23. And WOW! was it special!

Hitchcock Center for the Environment’s Education Director Katie Koerten joined us in the auditorium to present the back story on how the local Henry Street tunnels were some of the first amphibian tunnels built in the country, and taught the audience to sing the calls of frogs native to the region. The audience put their new found skills to immediate use when I read SAFE CROSSING out loud and the songs of spring peepers were called for several times during the story. This added a truly magical element to sharing SAFE CROSSING on the big screen!

When I finally came out of the auditorium, children were already hard at work putting spots on the troop of salamanders crawling across the windows of the Great Hall: this art installation transformed the space into a giant salamander tunnel! It was so wonderful to sign books in the lobby with art work being made around us. It was great to hear conversations around amphibians percolating among families as the children added to the art project. (Not pictured are all of the beautiful families who attended and participated. Ah, well!) Thanks to Carle Art Educator Brittany (Wazi) Waseleski Art Educator for coming up with the wonderful idea and Carle Director of Education Courtney Waring for organizing and facilitating such a beautiful event!

I was so glad to see my old University of Massachusetts art pal Tedric Eiseman, who brought his beautiful family, and so delighted to meet them all. Thanks for coming, Ted! I am so inspired by all your beautiful pottery, stone work and mask-making, and I loved hearing all about your baby goats! Hope to see you again soon!

Special thanks to my sweetheart, Greg Cook, who helped me get here in so many ways. ❤️