This week's author highlight has illustrated more than 70 books - most of which he authored himself! The Very Hungry Caterpillar, published in 1969, is perhaps Eric Carle's best known book, having been translated into 50 different languages. Eric Carle's website, found here, includes a more extensive biography, a complete book list, pictorial explanations of his artwork, links to his blog, and more.
His Life: Eric Carle was born in 1929 in New York; but as a 6 year old moved with his family to Germany, where he spent the rest of his childhood. In 1952, Carle returned to New York and worked for the New York Times as a graphic artist. He was first asked to illustrate Bill Martin's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? in 1967, which launched his career as a children's book illustrator. The next two years Carle published 1,2,3 to the Zoo, and The Hungry Caterpillar, both of which he authored and illustrated. These still-popular works were just the beginning of a very successful writing/illustrating career.
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| Our Eric Carle Illustrations |
His Art: Eric Carle's artwork is easily recognizable in his unique approach to creating illustrations. Carle first paints large sheets of white tissue paper a variety of colors. Once the papers are dry, Carle cuts different shapes out of the painted tissue papers, and creates vibrant pictures to illustrate his stories. You can click here to learn more about how Eric Carle creates his illustrations. This style of illustrations is easily duplicated at home (or in the classroom). My children (the younger and older ones) LOVED making "Eric Carle" pictures a couple of weeks ago.
His Books: Another quality about Eric Carle's books that I appreciate is that the main theme of each of his books teaches a specific concept. The following is a short list of Carle's books with the concepts they each teach:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar* (Metamorphosis)
- The Tiny Seed (Life Cycle of Plants)
- Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Phases of the Moon)
- A House for Hermit Crab (A Simple Introduction to Marine Biology)
- Today is Monday* (The Days of the Week)
- Hello, Red Fox (The Color Wheel)
In addition to the books listed above, I also recommend the following books by Eric Carle:
- 1,2,3 to the Zoo* (another wordless book - take note of the train across the bottom of the page)
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?* (written by Bill Martin)
- The Mixed-Up Chameleon
- Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?*
- The Grouchy Ladybug
- The Very Busy Spider
- The Very Quiet Cricket
- The Very Clumsy Click Beetle
- The Very Lonely Firefly
- From Head to Toe*
- 10 Little Rubber Ducks*
* These books are ideal for the younger child (2-3 years)
Disclaimer: Our recommendation of the books mentioned in this post is not a complete endorsement of the author, illustrator, or their other works. Please use discernment in selecting books by any given author.
This is part 6 in the Children's Author Highlight Series. Click
here for more children's author recommendations.
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