Eric Carle
A First Grade Author Study
is the author and illustrator of over 70 children’s books! Born in 1929 (wow, that’s EARLY!), Eric grew up in New York until he was six years old. When he was six, his parents moved to Germany, where Eric attended a prestigious (really fancy) art school. Although Eric liked Germany, he really missed New York and the great USA, so when he was twenty-three years old, he moved back to New York with only forty dollars in his wallet (that’s about enough money to buy two of your favorite movies on DVD)! Because Eric was so talented, he easily found a job as a graphic designer at The New York Times, and later as an art director at an advertising agency.
Several years later, in 1967, another author (Bill Martin, Jr.) asked Eric if he would illustrate one of his books (Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?). This book became an instant success (both for its writing, from Bill, and its beautiful drawings, from Eric). This success led Eric to believe that he could create his own books and illustrations! In 1968, Eric wrote and illustrated his first book (all on his own), entitled 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo, which is a picture book that helps children count to ten. A year later (in 1969), Eric wrote and illustrated his most famous book of all: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This famous book has been translated into more than forty-five different languages, and over thirty million copies have been sold worldwide!
After writing The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric went on to write and illustrate more than seventy books, meaning over ninety million books have been sold worldwide (that is A LOT of books), with MANY of these books earning many prestigious awards. Eric says he writes all of his books for one reason: “I feel strongly that each child is an individual; each child is different...I think I make my books for a child, and that child is me, the child in me” (basically...Eric makes books for all children, including the child inside of him!).
Eric loves reading, writing, illustrating, spending time with his children (he has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter), his wife (Barbara), and spending time at the shores of the Florida Keys and the hills of North Carolina. When asked about his beautiful picture books, Eric said “We have eyes, and we’re looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important.” This being said, Eric makes a point to have his books informative, encouraging, important, appealing, tasteful, and beautiful! So, get reading any of the seventy plus books Eric has written/illustrated... you are bound to love them all!
Several years later, in 1967, another author (Bill Martin, Jr.) asked Eric if he would illustrate one of his books (Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?). This book became an instant success (both for its writing, from Bill, and its beautiful drawings, from Eric). This success led Eric to believe that he could create his own books and illustrations! In 1968, Eric wrote and illustrated his first book (all on his own), entitled 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo, which is a picture book that helps children count to ten. A year later (in 1969), Eric wrote and illustrated his most famous book of all: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This famous book has been translated into more than forty-five different languages, and over thirty million copies have been sold worldwide!
After writing The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric went on to write and illustrate more than seventy books, meaning over ninety million books have been sold worldwide (that is A LOT of books), with MANY of these books earning many prestigious awards. Eric says he writes all of his books for one reason: “I feel strongly that each child is an individual; each child is different...I think I make my books for a child, and that child is me, the child in me” (basically...Eric makes books for all children, including the child inside of him!).
Eric loves reading, writing, illustrating, spending time with his children (he has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter), his wife (Barbara), and spending time at the shores of the Florida Keys and the hills of North Carolina. When asked about his beautiful picture books, Eric said “We have eyes, and we’re looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important.” This being said, Eric makes a point to have his books informative, encouraging, important, appealing, tasteful, and beautiful! So, get reading any of the seventy plus books Eric has written/illustrated... you are bound to love them all!
