The James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is presenting the exhibition 'Small Living Things: The Magical Art of Eric Carle.' The show, organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, features original artwork from Carle's classic children's books, process sketches, and related cultural objects, including a 1996 McDonald's Happy Meal toy series and a bronze sculpture of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. It runs from February 14 through May 24, supported by several donors and foundations.
The exhibition underscores the museum's strategic shift towards becoming a community hub and fostering lifelong learning through accessible, family-friendly art. It highlights the crossover between visual art, literature, and popular culture, bringing a major illustrator's work into a fine art museum context and engaging the local community through extensive programming, partnerships with county libraries, and a town-wide scavenger hunt.