Eric Carle - Early life, Writing and illustrating career, Style, Quotes, Later life

Picture book artist, born in Germany. Using a distinctive collage technique he has written and illustrated several children's books. He is best-known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1970), in which the voracious creature burrows through the pages of the book in search of delicacies.

Eric Carle (born June 25, 1929) is a children's book author and illustrator, most famous for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been translated into over 30 languages. Since the The Very Hungry Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 71 million copies of his books have sold around the world.

Early life

Born in Syracuse, New York in 1929, Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; Carle dreamed of returning to the United States, so he moved to New York City in 1952 with only $40 to his name.

Writing and illustrating career

One day, educator and author Bill Martin Jr., called to ask Carle to illustrate a story he had written. Martin’s eye had been caught by a picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Soon Carle was writing his own stories, too. His first wholly original book was 1,2,3 to the Zoo, followed soon afterward by The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Style

Eric Carle’s art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. Carle's readers often use his work as an example and create collages themselves that they often send to Carle;

The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature— an interest shared by most small children. Carle attempts to make his books not only entertaining, but also to offer his readers the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. When writing, Carle attempts to recognize children's feelings, inquisitiveness and creativity, as well as stimulate their intellectual growth;

Quotes

“With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school.

I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun.” -Eric Carle

Later life

Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter.

With his wife Barbara, Eric Carle founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a 44,000 sq.