-Moved to Germany when he was 6 years old.

-Educated in Germany.

-Graduated from the prestigious art school 'The Akademie der Bildenden Kunste' in Stuttgart.

-Returned to America in 1952 with fine portifolio in hand and forty dollars in his pocket.

-Found job as graphic designer in NYC.

-Bill Martin Jr. called Carle to illustrate his story after his eye caught a glimpse of a picture that Carle created for an advertisement.

-Martin and Carle teamed up to create 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?'

-Next Carle created his first wholly orginal book '1,2,3 to the zoo'.

-Followed by 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'.

 

- Artwork is created in collage technique, using hand painted papers, which he cuts and layers to form bright and cheerful images.

 

Other Facts

-Two grown-up children 1 boy and 1 girl.

-Lives in North Hampton, Masschusetts with wife Barbara.

-The Very Hungry Caterpillar translated into 30 languages and sold over 22 millon.

-Illustrated 70 books. 71 million copies sold around the world.

 

Reasons for Success

-The Secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who senses in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.

-Carle says "With many of my books I attempt to bridge the gap between the home and school... I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood, the first is being born".

 

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