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On Thursday, September 28, 2017, hundreds of children’s book artists, authors, and advocates will come together for the Twelfth annual Carle Honors, the annual fundraising gala and awards ceremony for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The 12th annual gala and fundraiser will honor those who have played an instrumental role in making picture books a vibrant and influential art and literary form. This year, The Carle will award the following honors:
Artist: Ed Young
Ed Young consistently brings to his books an eye for beauty, integrity and innovation, and sets an inspiring example for young artists. He received the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po (1990), two Caldecott Honors, and was twice nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest international award for children’s book authors and illustrators. The Cat from Hunger Mountain, released in November, 2016, is a visually stunning, poignant story about humility, wastefulness, and appreciating what one has.
Angel: Dr. John Y. Cole, Library of Congress Historian
Dr. John Y. Cole has long highlighted the importance of books for children and teens: as author coordinator for the National Book Festival from 2001-2013; by taking the lead in the establishment of the position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in 2008; and for realizing in 2009 the long-standing plan of the Library of Congress to open a Young Readers Center in its historic Jefferson Building.
Mentor: Bank Street Writers Lab, represented by Chairperson Dr. Cynthia Weill, Director of the Center for Children’s Literature
The organization’s leadership and support of writers and illustrators throughout its long history is unmatched. Founded in 1937, the Writers Lab encourages the writing of children’s literature that shows an understanding and appreciation of the language of growing children, is aware of and responsive to children’s real and imagined worlds, and affirms the social and cultural heritage of every child.
Bridge: Anthea Bell
Anthea Bell is a pioneer in the world of translations of foreign language books into English, especially children’s literature, renowned for keeping the original spirit of the book intact. Acclaimed examples of her work include the re-translation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales, the Inkworld trilogy by Cornelia Funke, the Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier, Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald, and the French Asterix comics.
The Presenter of the 2017 Awards will be writer Jack Gantos, whose works include Dead End in Norvelt, which won both the 2012 Newbery Award and the Scott O’Dell Award for Best Historic fiction, A Hole in My Life, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, and numerous other award-winning books. His latest book is WRITING RADAR: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories.
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 key fundraiser for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, supporting the Museum’s mission to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The annual event also includes a silent auction featuring works of art from the industry’s most celebrated artists, including Eric Carle. For ticket and sponsorship information, please contact Rebecca Miller Goggins, Director of Development at 413-559-6308 or rebeccag@carlemuseum.org.