AMHERST, MASS.- A special exhibition at The Carle honors the 90th anniversary of a classic picture book hero who has become an icon of peace and self-determination. On view May 9 – November 8, 2026, Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand explores the origins of the legendary bull who did not want to fight. Organized by guest curator Jane Bayard Curley, the exhibition features original drawings by artist Robert Lawson, the manuscript by writer Munro Leaf, materials related to Walt Disney Studio’s 1938 Academy Award-winning animated film, related merchandise, and a contemporary artwork inspired by Ferdinand.

“In this perilous, increasingly aggressive world, Ferdinand is a touchstone,” said Curley. “He embodies the peaceful life, the pleasure of simple things, the quiet power of staying true to oneself.”

“We are so excited to celebrate this cherished character’s anniversary at The Carle. We can’t wait to share with both life-long fans and young readers new to Ferdinand the true delight to experience the original drawings up close and see the detail, humor, and creativity on every page in a new light,” said The Carle’s Executive Director Jennifer Schantz.

Exhibition Highlights

Under the Cork Tree showcases the origins of Ferdinand, beginning with a story written in October 1935 in just 40 minutes by Munro Leaf. Originally titled “Ferdinand the Fierce,” “fierce” was quickly erased, but traces of that original idea can be seen in the manuscript on view in the exhibition. Artist Robert Lawson then spent three months producing the book’s illustrations and a book dummy (or draft version) to show publishers, and the inspired duet of word and image caught the eye of editor May Massee at Viking Press, who published The Story of Ferdinand in 1936. The exhibition showcases pencil sketches from the book dummy that capture the sweeping Spanish countryside—views that are well-known to readers of the book.

The majority of the exhibition centers around Lawson’s original black-and-white drawings, a suite of 37 delicate pen and ink images. The artwork features enchanting details, such as bunches of corks ripening on Ferdinand’s favorite cork tree, and a comic four-drawing bee sting sequence that is a masterpiece of visual storytelling. Lawson also captured classic Spanish architecture and landscapes reminiscent of Ronda and Madrid, as well as the ornate fashions of the proud matador and the “ladies with flowers in their hair” that distract Ferdinand in the bullring.

The book was a great success, and Walt Disney paid $800 for the rights, turning The Story of Ferdinand into a popular animated film. The animators parodied Disney as the preening matador and caricatured themselves as the matador’s assistants. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) in 1938, and a Ferdinand craze swept the nation, with a hit theme song, a giant Ferdinand balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Ferdinand-themed toys, games, and other merchandise. The exhibition features a selection of Ferdinand wind-up toys, a board game, and animation cels from the Disney film.

In the years since, Ferdinand’s story has been told and retold in books, puppet shows, and musical productions, including a full-length animated film (2017), inspiring many generations of readers and artists. Growing up on a farm in Connecticut, author/illustrator Elisha Cooper loved to sit quietly, like Ferdinand, under an apple tree. A watercolor work on view from Cooper’s recent book Emma, Full of Wonders (2024) pays homage to his childhood favorite.