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The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books.

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Biography

Mo Willems, the son of Dutch immigrants, grew up in New Orleans. He spent much of his youth telling stories and drawing. Willems especially loved reading "Peanuts" comics and then sketching Snoopy and Charlie Brown himself. "I even wrote a letter to Charles Schulz," Willems recalls, "saying that I wanted his job when he died." During high school, Willems acted in plays and started doing standup routines at comedy clubs.

After high school, Willems traveled abroad and performed standup comedy in London. He later moved to New York, where he studied film and then switched to animation. Willems spent the first part of his career writing and animating for children's television. For nine years, he worked on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards and developed characters such as Suzy Kabloozie. Willems later created Sheep in the Big City for the Cartoon Network and The Off-Beats for Nickelodeon.

For five years, Willems tried to write and illustrate children's books. After a number of rejections, Willems' simple doodle of a pigeon attracted the eye of an editor. This pigeon would become the star of his first book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which won a Caldecott Honor in 2004. The following year, Knuffle Bunny won another Caldecott Honor, which further solidified Willems' new career as a children's book author and illustrator.

Mo Willems writes and illustrates from his home in Brooklyn, New York, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

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A video interview with Mo Willems | Reading Rockets

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Caldecott-winner Mo Willems grew up in New Orleans. He spent much of his youth telling stories and drawing. Willems especially loved reading "Peanuts" comics and then sketching Snoopy and Charlie Brown himself. "I even wrote a letter to Charles Schulz," Willems recalls, "saying that I wanted his job when he died."

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March! Lots of theater and art to see, not to mention a new book!

I am very excited that my first alphabet book, A BUSY CREATURE'S DAY EATING!, publishes on March 6.

"Creative and hilarious, Willems' alphabet book has all the right ingredients to become a hit. Be prepared to binge read this one."

"There are a lot of laughs in this feeding frenzy, but just as much tenderness in the final scenes, which poignantly reflect the ABCs of TLC."

Available where ever find alphabet books are sold or at your local library!

This is an interactive immersive experience filled with games, drawing, animation, and much Mo'.

I was lucky enough to visit the exhibit for opening weekend last month and had a blast.

Check out the schedule for upcoming special events!

After its extended Pittsburgh run, this exhibit will be touring the nation for many years, hopefully to your town!

A companion exhibit to last years YOU ARE NOT ALONE exhibit, WORD PLAY is a collection of illustrations exploring the power (and occasional whimsy) of words.

My proceeds for this exhibit will be donated to The Center for New Americans to aid in their language and education efforts for new neighbors from abroad.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Presents Treasures from the Collection: A 15 Year Celebration

Running through April 1, 2018

The exhibition features 96 artworks representing a range of time periods and media, from Harry Bingham Neilson's 1898 pen-and-ink drawing for Life's Book of Animals to Ekua Holmes's 2015 paper collage for Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. Iconic picture-book characters Peter Rabbit, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eloise, and Shrek will delight guests young and old. Artists represented in the exhibition include Don Freeman, Trina Schart Hyman, Dorothy Lathrop, Leo Lionni, Arnold Lobel, David Macaulay, James Marshall, Petra Mathers, Wendell Minor, Jerry Pinkney, Uri Shulevitz, William Steig, Simms Taback, Tony DiTerlizzi, Chris Van Allsburg, Mo Willems, Garth Williams, Paul O. Zelinsky, and Lisbeth Zwerger, among others.
It's an honor to be in this show.

"They are a little bit rat. They are a little bit mole. They are all naked."

Well, except Wilbur, that is. Emmy winner and Caldecott honoree Mo Willems is back, once again teaming up with Deborah Wicks La Puma, composer of Elephant and Piggie's "We are in a Play!", for this world premiere, rock 'n' roll extravaganza. Grab your friends and watch as Wilbur, a clothes-loving mole rat with exceptional style, navigates the pressure to be just like everyone else. With tail-shaking tunes, empowering messages of individuality, and classic Mo Willems humor, this musical is sure to rock audiences of all ages.

My 3rd play (and first Rock Experience) opens at the SEATTLE CHILDREN'S THEATER on March 22nd.

I hope you enjoy this show; we had a great time putting it together for you!

Tickets are selling fast for this show, don't miss it if you're in the Seattle area!

But that's not all: there are lots other regional productions going on in March! Go bring a kid to the theater if you can! It's a wonderful experience for you and the kid'll have fun, too!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at Wallis Theatre/northwestern University

Here's a nice article about that production.

Last month I visited a local school as part of the annual
FRIENDIVERSARY celebration. We had a ball!Here is a story about the visit and the history of my work with First Book.

I also visited San Francisco last month to perform at
Sketchfest with some comedian pals. We had a blast! The San Francisco Chronicle wrote a story about it.

If you want to hear me tell a story from my early days as a writer for Sesame Street, take a listen to this episode of the HOLD ON podcast with Eugene Merman available HERE.

My publisher, Disney/Hyperion announced the upcoming publication of my new early reader fact/fiction hybrid series, UNLIMITED SQUIRRELS! The first book, I LOST MY TOOTH! hits the shelves this fall. I hope you will enjoy!

Now available at the
ERIC CARLE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP is this ELEPHANT GERALD KEYCHAIN!

Fear not, Piggie fans! There is also a PIGGIE KEY CHAIN!

If you're looking for signed books of mine, the Carle gift shop is your best bet.

Also available for the first time are 2 limited edition silk scarves based on my designs. One is a recent abstraction:

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March! Lots of theater and art to see, not to mention a new book! I am very excited that my first alphabet book, A BUSY CREATURE'S DAY EATING!, publishes on March 6. "Creative and hilarious, Willems' alphabet book has all the right ingredients to become a hit.

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Mo Willems' Official Website