And A Special Celebration of Marlo Thomas and the 50th Anniversary of The Picture Book, Free to Be . . . You and Me
Amherst, MA (June 24, 2024) – The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, an international champion for picture book art, and its creators, has announced the 2024 Carle Honors Honorees. These distinguished individuals will be awarded at the Benefit Gala at the New-York Historical Society, in New York City, on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Now in its 17th year, the gala remains focused on individuals and organizations whose creative vision and long-term dedication have had a profound effect on picture book art and the vital role they play in the children’s literature community.
“The children’s book world has no shortage of awards and accolades but the Carle Honors is the only one that is designed to acknowledge the whole, far-flung community of gifted and generous people and organizations that together perform the vital work of creating the best children’s books and getting them out to all who benefit from them,” said Leonard S. Marcus, Carle Trustee, children’s literature historian, and chairman and founder of the Carle Honors Committee.
This year’s Honors boasts a new venue and format with the goal of inspiring the joy felt through engagement with the Museum. The presentation of awards will feature honoree tributes from Grace Lin, Dr. Claudette S. McLinn, and more. A special musical revue with Marlo Thomas and Friends will pay homage to the 50th anniversary exhibition of the book Free to Be…. You and Me, which will open at The Carle in November 2024. A reception with cocktails, food, and mingling will follow for all. In lieu of an auction, The Carle will spotlight the newest artworks added to our significant permanent collection including pieces by Ludwig Bemelmans, Lucy Cousins, Leo and Diane Dillon, Barry Moser, LeUyen Pham, Beatrix Potter, and Mo Willems, among others, and honoring those artists who contributed these works.
The 2024 Carle Honors honorees are:
Artist: Uri Shulevitz
Uri Shulevitz is a distinguished artist in children’s literature, celebrated for his Caldecott Medal and Caldecott Honor-winning works. Born in Warsaw, he fled the German invasion and endured extreme hardship before making his way to New York. His journey is detailed in his books “Chance” and “How I Learned Geography.” Now 89, he was honored with Tall Tales and Short Tales: The Art of Uri Shulevitz, a 2015 exhibition at The Carle, where he plans to leave much of his archive. Working in a wide variety of media, Shulevitz demonstrates remarkable versatility as he interprets an equally wide range of literature.
Angel: We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a non-profit organization advocating for essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects the lives of all young people. Founded in 2014 as a grassroots hashtag, WNDB has grown rapidly into a leading voice for diversity in publishing. As they celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, WNDB continues to make a significant impact through awards, grants, mentorships, internships, public programs, book lists and more. Their recent initiative, Indigenous Reads Rising, highlights their commitment to diverse voices. The award will be accepted by Ellen Oh, founding member and honorary trustee.
Bridge: KidLit TV
KidLit TV, founded by Julie Gribble, is an innovative multi-media company dedicated to bringing picture books and their creators to children worldwide through libraries, classrooms, and home computers. The platform provides access to author and artist interviews, captivating read-alouds, interactive drawing tutorials, and other book-inspired activities, making reading engaging and accessible. Recognized with a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and as one of the American Association of School Librarians’ Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning, KidLit TV is committed to fostering a love of reading in young minds. Julie Gribble will accept the award.
Mentor: The Horn Book
Founded in Boston in 1924, The Horn Book is the world’s first critical journal dedicated to children’s literature. It began as a newsletter by Bertha Mahony in support of her Bookshop for Boys and Girls and has grown to include The Horn Book Magazine, The Horn Book Guide, and the prestigious Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, becoming a cornerstone in youth literature review. The Horn Book fosters contemporary literary discussions through platforms like Notes from the Horn Book, Family Reading, and Calling Caldecott. As it celebrates its 100th anniversary, it continues to shape and influence the field of children’s literature.
The Carle Honors Honorees are selected each year by a committee chaired by Marcus. 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; Bridge, individuals or organizations who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields, and Mentor, editors, designers, and educators who champion the art form.
Sponsorships and Donations
The Carle Honors is a key fundraiser for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and all proceeds support the Museum’s mission. Macmillan Children’s Books is the Exclusive Premier Sponsor of the 2024 Honors. Committee Hosts are Suzanne Collins and Cap Pryor, Jane Bayard Curley, Janet and William Gorth, Teresa Toro and Rolf Carle, and Katherine Vaz and Christopher Cerf. Additional hosting opportunities and corporate and individual sponsorships are available. A portion of every ticket purchased will support the attendance of select artists and educators through an Inspiration Fund. For immediate details about these, please contact Rebecca Miller Goggins, director of development at 413-559-6308 or rebeccag@carlemuseum.org.
About The Museum
Co-founded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the international champion of picture book art. Situated on 7.5 acres in Amherst, Massachusetts, The Carle houses a rich and deep collection of art, and illuminates its collection through exhibitions, education, programming, and art-making—making it a critical resource for picture book artists and authors, and art-loving communities locally, nationally, and abroad. The Carle’s mission is to elevate picture book art and inspire a love of art, art creation, and reading. Since opening its doors more than 20 years ago, The Carle has welcomed more than one million visitors—plus more than four million additional museum-goers who have enjoyed its touring exhibitions around the world.
The Carle’s permanent collection includes over 9,000 works of art by over 300 artists. The art in the permanent collection dates from the late 19th century to the present and consists primarily of works on paper, including significant holdings by artists Ashley Bryan, Remy Charlip, Antonio Frasconi, Leo Lionni, Arnold Lobel, Petra Mathers, Alice Bolam Preston, William Steig, Susanne Suba, Simms Taback, and Leonard Weisgard. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country and master’s degree programs in children’s literature in partnership with Simmons University.
More than 2,500+ students, educators, and librarians participate in The Carle’s youth outreach and professional development programs per year. The Carle Community Fund, which launched in 2019, covers Museum admission for low-income families, field trip fees for schoolchildren at Title One Schools, and professional development fees for early childhood educators and Title One school teachers and librarians. For online visitors, the Museum offers a wealth of digital resources, including art activities, book lists, collections art, exhibition videos, and workshops.
Every year, The Carle’s exhibitions travel to museums in the US and abroad, including cities in New York, Texas, Michigan, and Iowa, as well as internationally in Japan, China, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan, ensuring museums everywhere can introduce new audiences to the joy of picture book art. The Museum offers digital resources, including art activities, book recommendations, collections, exhibition videos, and workshops for online visitors. Learn more at www.carlemuseum.org and on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram @CarleMuseum.
For media inquiries, additional press information, and photo requests, please contact:
Gillian Linden at Gillian@rosengrouppr.com 703-402-6507