Eric Carle

Hello! My name is Eric Carle, and I love to tell stories with pictures. I was born on June 25th, 1929, in a city called Syracuse in New York. When I was a little boy, my father used to take me for long walks in nature. He showed me spiderwebs sparkling with dew and the cozy homes of little creatures under rocks and bark. This is where I first fell in love with all the small, wonderful things in the world.

When I was six years old, in 1935, my family moved all the way across the ocean to a country called Germany. It was very different, and I missed my home in America. But even there, I loved to draw. I went to a special art school and learned how to make pictures. In 1952, I decided to move back to America. I worked as a graphic designer, making pictures for newspapers and advertisements. It was fun, but my real adventure was about to begin.

One day, a writer named Bill Martin Jr. saw an ad I had made with a big red lobster. He asked me to draw the pictures for his book, and in 1967, we made 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?' together! A couple of years later, in 1969, I published a book all on my own that you might know. I got the idea when I was punching holes in a stack of paper and thought of a bookworm. That bookworm turned into a little caterpillar who was very, very hungry! To make my pictures, I have a special trick. I paint bright colors onto thin tissue paper. Then, I cut out shapes from the paper and glue them down to create my characters, like a fun and colorful puzzle.

I made many more books about grouchy ladybugs, quiet crickets, and mixed-up chameleons. I loved sharing my stories so much that my wife, Bobbie, and I had a wonderful idea. We wanted to create a place where everyone could see the amazing art from picture books. So, in 2002, we opened The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Massachusetts. It’s a happy, colorful place filled with art that tells stories.

I lived to be 91 years old, and I spent my life filling the world with color and stories. I hope that my books help you learn about numbers, animals, and the world around you. And I especially hope that my little hungry caterpillar keeps wiggling his way into your heart, reminding you that everyone can grow and change into something beautiful.