There’s currently a VERY adorable exhibit on display at Baylor University’s Mayborne Museum in Waco, TX that is completely worth a day trip! The Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit is on display at the Mayborne through May 12, 2019, inspired by the beloved children’s book author and illustrator. Of course, since it’s geared towards kids, you can expect a very hands-on, play-and-learn exhibit that lets you feel like you’re stepping into the pages of Eric Carle’s colorful picture books.

Photo By Kristi Jan Hoover

In this immersive exhibit, you can…

  • Become the Very Hungry Caterpillar as they follow his path
  • Weave a web with the Very Busy Spider
  • Find their light with the Very Lonely Firefly
  • Make the Very Clumsy Click Beetle flip and jump
  • Compose a night symphony with the Very Quiet Cricket
  • Create artwork using many of Eric Carle’s materials and techniques
  • Enjoy a gallery of prints from Eric Carle’s “Very” book series

Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover

Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover

Eric Carle is known for his classic “Very” series, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the “Very” series, illustrations feature hand-painted tissue paper collage technique, and these books also include five special insects who take journeys of discovery — each represented in this exhibit. Each story is a testament to Eric Carle’s love of nature, his respect for the emotional lives of children, and his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.

Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover

Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover

Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit was co-organized by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Masachusetts, and we’re excited to see it on display at the Mayborn Museum through May 12 before it continues its multi-year tour as a traveling exhibit.

Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover

Entry into the exhibit is included with general museum admission. Ticket prices are free for Baylor students and members, while tickets for non-members are $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 2-12 and $7 for seniors.

We’ve mentioned before how much we love the Mayborne Museum. It’s one of our suggested 5 Children’s Museums Near Austin That Are Worth the Trip as well as one of our recommendations for things to do on a Daytrip to Waco. If you haven’t been before, be prepared for hours of enjoyment. The Mayborn Museum features exploration stations for geology, paleontology, archaeology, and natural history, as well as two floors of themed kids discovery rooms for hands-on learning. Make giant bubbles, have a tea party, play dress up in clothes from cultures all over the world, see model trains, pretend to be a meteorologist and give a weather report against a green screen. You can also check out an outdoor historic village behind the museum.

Hours are:

  • Monday – Wednesday,  Friday & Saturday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m.

Learn much more about this exhibit and everything else you can see at the Mayborne Museum by visiting their website and Facebook page.

–> Ticket Giveaway! We have a 4-pack of admission tickets to give to a lucky Do512 Family reader. Enter below. Good luck! By entering the giveaway, you’ll be added to our twice-weekly email list where you’ll get all the latest on family fun in Austin.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!