Free, self-guided tour of nearly 70 original McCloskey sketches, illustrations and paintings from his Caldecott Medal and Honor books Make Way for Ducklings (featured in the Children's Library on the first floor); and on the Mezzanine Landing and throughout the Second Floor of the library you'll find artwork from Time of Wonder, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and Burt Dow Deep-Water Man . . . as well as special surprises along the way.

These items are on loan from the May Massee Collection, Emporia State University's Special Collections and Archives in Emporia, Kansas. May Massee was McCloskey's longtime editor at Viking Press and an alumna of Emporia State University.

This exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Illustration Institute on Peaks Island, Maine, who run a summer residency program on the island bringing illustrators from around the world to create and share their art.  Year-round, its mission is to raise appreciation and awareness of illustration in its many forms, and provide people of all ages the opportunity to learn directly from master artists and working professionals through exhibitions and workshops provided at public libraries, museums, schools, and other community venues. 

Visit our McCloskey program calendar HERE, as we are bringing authors and illustrators to Curtis throughout the exhibit, including both of McCloskey's daughters Sal and Jane; Maine's native humorist Tim Sample will give a lively reading of Burt Dow Deep-Water Man, and more. 

Docent-led tours and a smartphone app self-guided tour coming soon!

The McCloskey books featured in the exhibit are for sale at our Lending Desk, as well as the books of the visiting authors and a few totes and tees from Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings. All proceeds support future library programming and the purchase of books and other library materials for our community of readers at Curtis Memorial Library.