Beloved Children’s Author Eric Carle Passes

Eric Carle, the author of the children’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, passed away on May 23. Carle was 91. The author of over 70 books for kids, Carle’s career didn’t start until he was nearly 40.

Born in 1929 in Syracuse, N.Y., Carle remembered an early life filled with art and light. He found great inspiration for his books, which were often filled with insects, from his own childhood. His father would take him for long walks and explain life cycles of animals to him, as well as pointing out foxholes, spider-webs and bird nests, which was the playground for Carle’s imagination.

The son of German immigrants, the Carles moved back to Germany when his mother became homesick. It was just in time for World War II. In the following years Eric Carle saw very little life and color. As he recalled, the cities were camouflaged with grays and variations of muted green. He suffered many hardships through this era, including his father disappearing into a Russian prisoner-of-war camp for years. But at the age of 23, Eric Carle returned to the U.S after graduating from art school, and was hired by The New York Times. He adored the bright colors and liveliness of the impressionists, and moved into advertising. His first book was the 1967 classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by his friend Bill Martin Jr.

Eric Carle’s art is distinctive and instantly recognizable. His artwork 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.

In 2019, Carle spoke to Penguin Random House about his landmark 1969 children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, saying “I think it is a book of hope. Children need hope. You, little insignificant caterpillar, can grow up into a beautiful butterfly and fly into the world with your talent. Will I ever be able to do that? Yes, you will. I think that is the appeal of that book.” He hoped the book would serve as a “literary cocoon” for children approaching kindergarten. “As little kids prepare to leave the warmth and safety of home for school, they're meant to identify with beautiful, soaring butterflies.”

In 2002, Carle and his late wife, Bobbie, founded the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass, inspired by the picture book museums they toured on visits to Japan.

Check out one of Eric Carle’s beloved books by reserving a copy with your library card from the Library’s online catalog.