Eric Carle's picture books are engaging to the point of being problematic for many parents and child-minders. Kids read them, and become addicted, so by the 17th reading, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? loses some of its magic to the adult reader, and the pictures go by largely unappreciated. Kudos to the Tacoma Art Museum and its exhibition "Beyond Books: the Independent Art of Eric Carle," for bringing in paintings, sculptures, and personal sketches that Carle has been making privately for more than 60 years. Museum goers will see a side of Carle they haven't seen before, such as his advertising days, his tissue-paper collage technique, glass sculpture and costume design for opera. The exhibit opens Saturday with a 2 p.m. lecture by Nick Clark, chief curator of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM, "BEYOND BOOKS: THE INDEPENDENT ART OF ERIC CARLE," APRIL 6-JULY 7, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, $8-$10, 1701 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.4258