Author archive

Eric Carle

Eric Carle (1929‑2021) was an American children’s author, illustrator, and designer best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969), which has sold over 50 million copies and been translated into more than 60 languages. Born in Syracuse, New York, to German immigrants, he grew up in Stuttgart, survived World War II, and later studied graphic design in Germany. After moving back to New York, he worked as a graphic designer for The New York Times and in advertising before turning to picture books. Over his career he wrote and illustrated more than 70 books, pioneering collage techniques and interactive page designs. In 2002 he and his wife opened the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.