Eric Carle
Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, and more than 88 million copies of his books have sold around the world.
He is one of the best-known and loved of picture book creators. His work is immediately recognisable through his vibrant use of colour and tissue-paper collage. Eric Carle's most famous book is, of course, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
In the mid 1960s, Carle decided to give up a successful career in advertising to become an illustrator and graphic designer. His first published work appeared in a cookery book. Soon afterwards, children's book author Bill Martin asked him to illustrate the manuscript of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The resulting book was an instant hit. Encouraged by this success, Carle began submitting ideas for his own books. One of these was Willie The Worm. His editor suggested that a caterpillar might prove a more endearing character - the rest is history.
Books
"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 2-5
Sloth lives in the rainforest with pumas, bats, monkeys and many more animals. Sloth's fellow creatures can't understand why he is so quiet, so slow and so lazy.
10 Little Rubber Ducks
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Collins Children's Books
Interest age: 2-5
This book was inspired by a true story. In 1992 a storm hit a cargo ship and 29,000 rubber ducks were swept overboard - and they washed ashore all over the world!
Do You Want To Be My Friend?
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 3+
'Do you want to be my friend?' Asked just once, this simple question starts a little mouse's journey through this almost wordless picture book, seeking the perfect companion.
Friends
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 7+
A delightfully improbable ending crowns this story of friendship lost and regained which is fabulously illustrated in vivid colour with Eric Carle's distinctive collage technique.
Mister Seahorse
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 3+
Mister Seahorse, like many other types of marine animal, is a 'male mother'.
Sleep Tight Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 0-2
You may be familiar with the tale of the Very Hungry Caterpillar and what he eats over the course of a week, but now it’s time to join him as he makes his way home to bed. A calming goodnight story from the nation’s favourite caterpillar.
The Tiny Seed
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 7+
In the autumn, flower seeds are blown up in the air and across the land. Some seeds are burned by the sun while others land on ice and die.
The Very Busy Spider
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 7+
One morning in a farmyard a spider begins to spin a web. All the animals try to persuade her to stop but she doesn't answer any of them; she is too busy spinning her web.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 2-5
Little fingers will love to follow the very hungry caterpillar as he munches his way through the pages of this classic, colourful, interactive picture book.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Hide & Seek
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 1-4
An interactive board book with cut-out finger trails and sturdy flaps that encourage youngsters to explore the forest in the company of the very hungry caterpillar.