Growing Up with Eric Carle
We recently visited Kiba Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, because Eric Carle’s books hold so many special memories for our family.
I’ve been reading his books to my kids since they were tiny — especially The Very Hungry Caterpillar — so we’re basically a household of caterpillar fans at this point. Reading picture books together before bed has been our routine for years.
The exhibition had so many original illustrations from his books. My son, who’s obsessed with the caterpillar, kept humming the caterpillar song and repeating lines from the book — “Look at the butterfly!” — the entire time.
There were also a few photo spots, including one based on Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me. Standing there brought back so many memories of reading that book to my daughter when she was little. It’s such a sweet, funny story, and she used to ask me to read it again and again — extremely repeatedly, if I’m honest. Seeing that photo spot, I couldn’t help but think about how much she’s grown — these days, she’s the one reading picture books to her little brother.
Honestly, there are days when I get a little tired of “Mom, please read it again” on repeat. But kids grow up so fast, and this exhibition reminded me to enjoy these picture-book years while they last.
The exhibition runs until July 26th. → MOT Tokyo: Eric Carle Exhibition
