* Description
* Eric Carle is accled and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books
for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of
literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over
twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books,
many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to
Germany when he was six years old; he was educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie
der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood
memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he
found a job as a graphic designer in the promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of
an advertising agency for many years.
One day, respected 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 striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown
Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children
everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. 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 celebrated classic, The Very Hungry
Caterpillar.
Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using
hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added
dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song
as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched.
Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his
illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books'
appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who
shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.
The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most
small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the rtunity to learn
something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for
their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his
books such a stimulating and lasting experience.
Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or
should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will
it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from
home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we
leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try
to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager
to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."
Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. With his wife Barbara, he lives in Northampton,
Massachusetts. The Carles spend their summers in the nearby Berkshire hills.
copyright (c) 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.
Eric Carle is accled and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books
for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of
literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 25 languages and sold over
twelve million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than sixty books,
many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.
Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old; he was
educated there, and graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart. But his
dream was always to return to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories. So, in 1952, with a fine portfolio
in hand and forty dollars in his pocket, he arrived in New York. Soon he found a job as a graphic designer in the
promotion department of The New York Times. Later, he was the art director of an advertising agency for many years.
One day, respected 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 striking picture of a red lobster that Carle had created for an advertisement. Brown
Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the result of their collaboration. It is still a favorite with children
everywhere. This was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. 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 celebrated classic, The Very Hungry
Caterpillar.
Eric Carle's art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His art work is created in collage technique, using
hand-painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images. Many of his books have an added
dimension - die-cut pages, twinkling lights as in The Very Lonely Firefly, even the lifelike sound of a cricket's song
as in The Very Quiet Cricket - giving them a playful quality: a toy that can be read, a book that can be touched.
Children also enjoy working in collage and many send him pictures they have made themselves, inspired by his
illustrations. He receives hundreds of letters each week from his young admirers. The secret of Eric Carle's books'
appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who
shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.
The themes of his stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature - an interest shared by most
small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer the child the rtunity to learn
something about the world around them. It is his concern for children, for their feelings and their inquisitiveness, for
their creativity and their intellectual growth that, in addition to his beautiful artwork, makes the reading of his
books such a stimulating and lasting experience.
Carle says: "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school. To me home represents, or
should represent; warmth, security, toys, holding hands, being held. School is a strange and new place for a child. Will
it be a happy place? There are new people, a teacher, classmates - will they be friendly? I believe the passage from
home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born. Indeed, in both cases we
leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try
to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager
to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."
copyright (c) 2000 by Penguin Group (USA) Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.
Number of Pages: 24
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Sub-Genre: Classics
Series Title: Book&Toy
Format: Mixed media product
Publisher: Philomel Books
Age Range: Adult
Author: Eric Carle
Language: English
Estimated shipping dimensions: 5.23INCH X 7.4INCH X 1.0INCH
DPCI : 247-07-6582
UPC : 9780399242052
TCIN : 14287534
Estimated shippimg weight: 0.6POUND