Outreach Programs
To arrange for your group's outreach program please contact the Education Department at 413.658.1113 or programs@picturebookart.org
Outreach Programs Brochure
Click here to download the full Outreach Programs Brochure (PDF)
Book-Centered Programs
The Whole Book Approach is the Museum's critical framework and pedagogical method for understanding the art and design of a picture book and expanding its use as a tool for learning. Drawing upon Visual Thinking Strategies, whole language instruction, and the child-focused discovery methods of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education, this critical engagement with the picture book as an art form places emphasis on reading with children rather than reading to children and engages the group in a collaborative experience of the picture book. It is the foundation for the following programs:
AGES 0-4
Target Audience: Child Care Centers, Preschools, Home School Groups, Family Centers, Libraries
On The Road
A Book in Hand
$50 per 30-minute session
This multiple copy storytime program is designed to engage children and their caregivers with the picture book. Participating children are provided with a copy of the board book read by the storytime leader and are encouraged to manipulate the board book as the reading occurs. Sites may choose to purchase the copies for participants for an additional fee.
Optional Purchase Fee: $6/board book; $12/hardcover teacher's copy
Optional Teacher Consultation Fee: $100 for a one-hour consultation deconstructing the theory and practice behind this program so that teachers can begin to implement such programming in their classrooms.
On The Road
Visiting Storytimes: The Whole Book Approach
$50 per 30-minute session
Each session includes readings of 1-2 picture books employing the Museum's Whole Book Approach. The session also provides participants with picture book design and production vocabulary in order to give them the verbal tools necessary to talk about the parts of a book and how they function together to create an artistic whole. Songs and movement are integrated into the program when appropriate.
Optional Teacher Consultation Fee: $100 for a one-hour consultation deconstructing the theory and practice behind this program so that teachers can begin to implement this method in their classrooms.
AGES 5-8
Target Audience: Elementary School Classrooms, Home School Groups, After-school Groups, Libraries
On The Road
Visiting Storytimes: The Whole Book Approach
$75 per 45-minute session
See Ages 0-4 program description, adapted and lengthened for an older audience.
On The Road
Book Talk Programs
$50 per 30-minute session
A perfect start for launching author and illustrator studies, this program engages students with the body of a particular artist's or artist/author team's work through interactive discussion and spot readings of picture book art and texts. Choose from among the following developed programs, or request a different focus for an additional program development fee.
Artists or artist/author teams:
Margaret Wise Brown and Her Illustrators, Eric Carle, Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney, Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, Dr. Seuss, Chris VanAllsburg, Margot Zemach
Optional Program Development Fee: $100
Optional Ongoing Consultation: $100/hour for ongoing remote and in-person support in developing and implementing your author/illustrator study program.
AGES 9 AND UP
Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School Classes, Home School Groups, After-school Groups, Libraries
On The Road
Picture Book Critique Circles: The Whole Book Approach for Older Students
$75 per 45-minute session
This picture book reading program builds upon the visiting storytime program and is designed to engage older students.
Optional Teacher Consultation Fee: $100 for a one-hour consultation deconstructing the theory and practice behind this program so that teachers can begin to implement this method in their classrooms.
On The Road
Book Talk Programs
$50 per 30-minute session
See Ages 5-8 description.
Optional Program Development Fee: $100
Optional Ongoing Consultation: $100/hour for ongoing remote and in-person support in developing and implementing your author/illustrator study program.
On The Road
Reading with Young Children
$150 per 90-minute session
Grounded in the Whole Book Approach described above, this is an ideal program to support "reading buddy" programs that match older students with younger students in school settings. It is also a great enrichment program for mentoring programs and for child development classes at the high school level.
Optional ongoing consultation fee: $100/hour to support your reading buddy program development.
Art Studio Programs
The Art Studio at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art supports the aims of the Museum through its Public Art Program by encouraging making, appreciating, and thinking about art. The Guided Programs available at the Museum or on an outreach basis engage students in hands-on art making designed to nurture their imagination and further develop creative and critical thinking. In addition to drawing on the Museum's exhibitions, Visual Thinking Strategies, and the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education, these activities also support the National and Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Frameworks for art education.
On The Road
Art Studio to Go
$175 (includes materials) for a 75 minute program.
This outreach program offers an extension of the Museum’s current Public Art Program or can be a follow-up to your group’s guided visit. After a brief presentation grounded in the art currently on exhibit at the Museum, students are guided in the exploration of selected materials and the process of art making. This program is for classes of 10-25 students and sites within a half-hour radius of the Museum.
Optional Program Development Fee: $100
On The Road
From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear
$250
This PowerPoint presentation is designed for large audiences interested in the Museum's Whole Book Approach to evaluating and using the picture book as an art form. This interactive presentation examines the art from Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and allows the audience to discover the full potential of this deceptively simple concept book. Ideal for professional groups, groups of older students, and can be adapted to engage young students.
Optional Ongoing Consultation Fee: $100/hour for ongoing remote and in-person support in developing and implementing your site's study program on the work of Eric Carle.
On The Road
Big Screen Storytimes
$175 for one of the following 30-minute presentations
The Museum's Pajama Party big-screen storytimes, featuring picture book images transmitted onto a large screen while the text is read to the group, are a regular favorite with Members. Bring this program to your site for a Family Literacy Night or for other events highlighting a love of books and reading. Choose from among the following developed programs or request a different focus for an additional program development fee.
"Down on the Farm" featuring:
Bob by Tracy Campbell Pearson
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
"A Very Buggy Storytime" featuring:
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
"Reading with the Three Bears" featuring:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle
Panda Bear Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle
"All Aboard!" featuring:
Freight Train by Donald Crews
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
"Pajama Time" featuring:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
Time for Bed by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jane Dyer
Optional Program Development Fee: $150
Residencies
Schools may contract with the Museum to have a member of the Museum’s education staff work with teachers and students over an extended period of time. An individually designed residency might include onsite professional development; Museum visits; classroom visits featuring art making, Whole Book Approach storytimes, “reading pictures,” or team-teaching with the classroom teacher; and bibliographic research support for teachers. A limited number of residencies are available and can often be funded through grants written by schools. Fees are determined on a case-by-case basis.
The following sites have hosted Museum residencies:
- Jackson Street School, Northampton, MA (2003)
- E.N. White Elementary School, Holyoke, MA (2003)
- The Common School, Amherst, MA (2003)
- Egremont Elementary School, Pittsfield, MA (2004)
- Mohawk Trail Regional School District, Franklin County, MA (2005)
Consultation
A fee of $100 / hour will be charged for professional consultation efforts which are clearly aligned with the Museum's mission to increase visual and verbal literacy, provide the tools to enjoy and appreciate art of every kind, and to celebrate the art of the picture book. Ongoing consultation can also be arranged to support the development and implementation of your lessons employing the methods outlined in these workshops.
Additional Fees
Mileage
The Museum will charge a fee of $.48/mile for roundtrip travel between its Amherst location and the hosting site. The Museum will calculate this fee using an internet map source.
Distance
The Museum absorbs one hour of roundtrip travel for outreach programming. Any additional time will be rounded to the nearest half-hour, and the rate will be $30/half-hour of travel time outside of the one hour roundtrip radius. This radius is determined by the Museum through an internet map source.
Accommodations
Any site outside of a four hour roundtrip radius from the Museum will be asked to provide overnight accommodations for the outreach consultant/presenter at his/her discretion. A per diem rate of $45 may also be applied to cover meals and incidental expenses incurred by the consultant/presenter.