2021 Virtual Carle Honors Open for Registration:

Auction Artists and Featured Guests Announced

-Exceptional individuals and organizations to be celebrated at 15 ^th annual awards ceremony

for significant contributions to the field of children’s literature-

Amherst, MA  - The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will hold the 2021 Virtual Carle Honors on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 7:00 pm EDT. Now in its 15^th year, the annual gala and fundraiser celebrates the exceptional work that individuals and organizations have done to enrich the world of children’s books. Registration is free, and there will be opportunities to support the Museum at signup and during the event.

“We are delighted to celebrate our honorees with this virtual celebration which anyone can join from anywhere,” said Rebecca Miller Goggins, director of development at The Carle. “During the pandemic, art and books have brought hope to so many people around the world. On September 23 ^rd we will go behind the scenes and celebrate the people who make those picture books possible.”

The 2021 Carle Honors honorees are:

Artist : Raúl Colón

Raúl Colón is an award-winning illustrator of over 30 children’s books, including Draw!; Imagine!; Susanna Reich’s José! Born to Dance; Angela’s Christmas by Frank McCourt; and Jill Biden’s Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops. Throughout his distinguished career, Colón has inspired readers and illustrators alike with his exceptional artistry, unique techniques, and powerful stories of people who never give up on their dreams.

Angel: Every Child a Reader, represented by Carl Lennertz

Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of daily life and a lifelong joy by providing free resources to all educators and parents to share with children and teens. As the not-for-profit arm of the Children’s Book Council, Every Child a Reader sponsors Children’s Book Week and the Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards and co-sponsors (with the Library of Congress Center for the Book) the National Ambassadorship for Young People’s Literature.

Bridge: Dennis M. V. David and Justin G. Schiller
Dennis David and Justin Schiller, founders of Battledore Ltd. boast a thirty-year career as dealers in rare and collectible children’s books. Together they have contributed pioneering scholarship in the field of children’s literature and illustration and played seminal, behind-the-scenes roles as builders of many of the field’s major research collections.

Mentor: Patricia Aldana

Patricia Aldana is a renowned children’s book publisher who has devoted her career to bringing new voices to picture books. She is the founder of Groundwood Books, President of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), and Publisher of Aldana Libros, an imprint of Greystone Kids.

Special Features:

Children's literature expert and historian Leonard S. Marcus, founder of the Carle Honors, will introduce the awards. In a special recording, The New York Times bestselling author, poet, and activist Amanda Gorman reads from her forthcoming debut picture book, Change Sings, illustrated by Loren Long. A special tribute to the Museum’s late co-founder Eric Carle will highlight art from his collection.

Carle Honors Art Auction

A key element of this crucial fundraiser for the Museum is the Carle Honors Art Auction, featuring exceptional works of art donated by 26 of the field’s most celebrated artists. This year’s auction artists are R.W. Alley, Selina Alko, Cynthia Alonso, Lisa Brown, Ashley Bryan, Eric Carle, Raúl Colón, Mike Curato, Laura Freeman, Michaela Goade, E.B. Goodale, Kiku Hughes, Gordon C. James, Julia Kuo, Arnold Lobel, Petra Mathers, Roxie Munro, Greg Pizzoli, Amber Ren, Maurice Sendak, Simms Taback, Leonard Weisgard, Rosemary Wells, Mo Willems, Dan Yaccarino, and Ed Young. The online auction will open for bidding on Friday, September 17, and will end the night of the fundraiser at 8:30 pm EDT. Everyone is invited to attend the online event and bid on the auction.