Ask members of the preschool set if they've read any good books lately and you are likely to hear a chorus of titles that include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Ten Little Rubber Ducks, and 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo. With all these titles and many more, produced by acclaimed children's author and illustrator Eric Carle, the popularity of Carle's books is often attributed to his innovative design, colorful collage art and immediate connection with children. Carle's "I can do that" approach has been interwoven into Loew-Cornell's new The World of Eric Carle® Art Activity Kits (www.loew-cornell.com); providing parents and children the tools to interact, learn and play together. "By sharing with your child in this way, you are saying: "I have time for you. I respect and love you," says Carle in a message to parents featured in each kit.
Recommended for children ages 3 and up, each art activity kit has a themed activity book illustrated with Carle's beloved characters and art from books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Grouchy Ladybug. Designed to ignite the imagination, the books encourage children to use colors, shapes, textures and pictures to their express thoughts and ideas by creating their own artwork on special pages throughout the books. "Creative expression is a core developmental skill used to enhance learning as children explore the world around them," says Brand Manager Jennifer O'Leary. "These activity kits offer a variety of art supplies, many with 'chubby' handles which are friendly and easy for young hands to hold."
There are six The World of Eric Carle® Art Activity Kits, each with its own unique art supplies and learning theme. These include: My Animals Texture, My Warm & Cool Colors, My Color Wheel, My Numbers, My Alphabet and My Shapes. Art supplies range from paint and markers to glue and collage materials making it easy for children to create art they will be proud of. O'Leary suggests parents and children choose one or two pieces to frame and display. "Having your artwork displayed is a great self esteem booster. Frames can be purchased, but they can also be as simple and inexpensive as mounting the art on a bright piece of construction paper to add a finishing touch," said Carle.
The World of Eric Carle® Art Activity Kits from Loew-Cornell are available through craft, toy and book outlets. Suggested retail for each kit is $16.99. For more information about The World of Eric Carle® Activity Kits and other Loew-Cornell® products, free project ideas and purchasing information visit www.loew-cornell.com.
Loew-Cornell, Inc. a marketer of artist brushes, tools and accessory products is a Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH) Company located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Product offerings include over 2000 items to serve the artist, ceramist and hobbyist under well-known brand names including Loew-Cornell®, American Painter®, Arttec®, Forster®, Totally You® and Contemporary Crafts®.
About The World of Eric Carle:
The World of Eric Carle is a global consumer products, licensing and merchandise program based on the catalog of over 70 books by this beloved author. The design of each product meticulously reflects Eric Carle's "books to play with-toys to read" philosophy.
About Eric Carle:
Eric Carle is an acclaimed author/illustrator who has won countless literary awards for his classic works such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Quiet Cricket. At the age of six, Eric and his parents, who were German immigrants, moved from Syracuse, NY, to Germany. His passion for art led him to enroll in the Akademie der bildenden Künste, in Stuttgart. After graduating, he returned to the United States, where he worked as a graphic designer and as an advertising agency art director. Eric Carle's career as a creator of books for children began in the late 1960's when he illustrated
Bill Martin Jr's book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Soon afterward, he began writing his own stories, and has been attracting new readers with books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar ever since. In 2002, with his wife Barbara, Eric Carle co-founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. For more information, please visit the official Eric Carle website at www.eric-carle.com and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art at www.picturebookart.org.