Eric Carle Biography
Eric Carle is the acclaimed and beloved illustrator of many children’s picture books, most notably the The Very Hungry Caterpillar which has been translated into 62 languages and has sold more than 46 million copies. Since it was first published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated over 70 books and written most of them too, selling 145 million copies of his books worldwide.
 
Eric Carle Facts
Born in New York in 1929, Eric moved to Germany when he was six years old and grew up there, graduating from a prestigious art school in Stuttgart. He returned to New York in 1952 and landed his first job as a graphic designer at The New York Times. He later became Art Director of an advertising agency for many years. It was here that one of his illustrations caught the eye of author Bill Martin Jr who asked him to collaborate on what became his first book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Eric’s illustrations have an instantly recognisable style with the themes of his stories often drawing on his love of nature. As well as entertaining small children, his books also educate them about the world around them.

Our favourite Eric Carle Book Characters
Caterpillar - from The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Firefly - from Firefly, Light Up The Sky
Brown Bear - from Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Our favourite Eric Carle Book Quotes
“One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and - pop! - out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.” (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)