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Original art from 27 books
Original art from 27 books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and 10 Little Rubber Ducks, close enough to see the colours and brushwork in the collage papers.
Art exhibitions
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Eric Carle with Dutch editions of his books, October 1988 (photo by Fotopersbureau De Boer); a file photo, not this exhibition. · Report image rightsOsaka · JapanArt exhibitions
2027.03.20 — 2027.05.09 · Coming soon
One bite, one hole.
Eric Carle: It All Began with The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Osaka)
Eric Carle (1929–2021) is one of America’s best-loved picture-book artists. In The Very Hungry Caterpillar the pages change size and the caterpillar leaves holes where it eats, and children around the world still love it. To mark 50 years of the Japanese edition, this retrospective is staged with the full support of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Massachusetts: original art from 27 books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and 10 Little Rubber Ducks, with work from his years as a graphic designer, dummy books from the first stages of an idea and the coloured papers he cut for his collages, about 180 works in all. The Osaka showing is at the Abeno Harukas Art Museum from 20 March to 9 May 2027.
GOWOAH / Osaka
A REASON TO GO
A REASON TO GO
Abeno Harukas Art Museum2027.03.20 — 2027.05.09Art exhibitionsTicket required
FIND YOUR REASON
What draws you to this experience?
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The painted papers behind the collages
There are also the papers he painted with colours and patterns before cutting them for collage, and the dummy books from the first stages of an idea, showing how a picture book is made.
Art exhibitions03
A picture-book artist who was a designer
Trained in graphic design, he worked in New York as a designer and art director; the show covers that period too and his inventive ideas for the shape of a book.
Art exhibitionsProgramme, background & sources
Checked · 2026-10-15
A LITTLE CLOSER
A closer look.
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2016 · John Phelan · Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
MAKE IT YOUR EXPERIENCE
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This could be for you if you are…
- Grown-ups and children who grew up with The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Anyone interested in picture books and graphic design
Before you decide
Prices and sale dates are not yet announced.
The museum is on the 16th floor, reached by a shuttle lift.
The museum has no car park.
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The exhibition layout is not out yet.
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Dates & times
2027.03.20 — 2027.05.09Saturday 20 March to Sunday 9 May 2027. Tuesday to Friday 10am–8pm; Mondays, weekends and public holidays 10am–6pm; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Check closing days with the museum.
Asia/TokyoMore programme details
- Original art from 27 books
- The painted papers behind the collages
- A picture-book artist who was a designer
Venue & travel
Abeno Harukas Art MuseumThe Abeno Harukas Art Museum is on the 16th floor of Abeno Harukas, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka, directly linked to Kintetsu Osaka-Abenobashi station and the JR and subway Tennoji stations; take the shuttle lift from B1 or the 2nd floor.
Entry & companions
Prices, sales and entry rules are not yet published. The museum is on the 16th floor of Abeno Harukas, reached by the shuttle lift from B1 or the 2nd floor.
Tickets & access
Tickets to be announced
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Sources & image credits
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Fotopersbureau De Boer · CC0 Image source
Abeno Harukas Art Museum, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Yomiuri Shimbun and Yomiuri Telecasting
Eric Carle with Dutch editions of his books, October 1988 (photo by Fotopersbureau De Boer); a file photo, not this exhibition.
Information checked on 2026-10-15
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Photo source · Public domain · Cropped preview· Report image rights
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Photo source · Public domain · Cropped preview· Report image rights
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