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Students who are pursuing the M.F.A. in Writing for Children complete four required academic courses: Criticism of Children’s Literature, The Picturebook, History of Publishing, and one genre-based course. In addition, M.F.A. students take writing courses and work closely with a mentor to produce a manuscript from conception to submission.

The Carle

Founded in part by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art, conceived and built with the aim of celebrating the art that we are first exposed to as children. Through the exploration of images that are familiar and beloved, it is the Museum's goal to foster connections between visual and verbal literacy and to provide visitors of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to explore their own creativity and the confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind.

The Museum's 40,000 square-foot building houses three Galleries dedicated to rotating exhibitions of picture book art from around the world; a hands-on Art Studio for creating masterpieces of one's own; an Auditorium for performances, films, and lectures; a comfortable Library for reading and storytelling: a Cafe serving simple and delicious fare; and a Museum Shop stocked with creative gifts and old and new picture book favorites. The Museum is located in Amherst and situated in the heart of the Five College area of Western Massachusetts where Eric Carle has lived and worked for more than 25 years.

For more information, visit The Carle website at www.picturebookart.org

Sample Courses

Victorian Children's Literature
Poetry for Young Readers
Origins of Story
Nonfiction: The New Frontier

See our "Courses" section to view all courses in the Children's Literature program

Download the PDF Document Program Fact Sheet for more information on the curriculum.

Join us an information session!

Check our information sessions page for upcoming dates and times.

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Simmons Success

“I had never thought about how texts create their readers, how representations of children reflect adult concerns, how words and pictures ricochet to ironic effect. I never even knew there was a whole genre of fiction for young adults! Thank you Simmons for enlightening me.”
—Dylan Ward ’03 M.A. Children’s Literature

 

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