Eric Carle's Children's Books

Eric Carle, award-winning author and illustrator of over seventy books for children has the rare gift of seeing the world from the perspective of a very young child. His rhythmic prose and his illustrations, created by tearing paper and making collages, speak of the innocence and simplicity of a child's world.

Although many of Carle's books are classics, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is perhaps his best known. The story begins with an egg that hatches on a leaf. The tiny caterpillar who emerges is very hungry and eats his way through an amazing amount of food each day of the week until he is quite large and closes himself in a chrysalis. You can imagine what happens next.

Bright colors characterize Carle's art work. His style is distinctive and unlike any other.

I once had a job visiting families with young children month by month, bringing parenting information and child development information that pertained to the exact age the child was that month. Along with the information, I always brought an activity and a book tailored to the age of the child. One book I carried regularly was Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

Children I visited really loved this book. Some of them memorized the rhythm of it and were eager to anticipate the color of the animal coming on the next page. By the end of reading it through, they were saying the repeated words together with me as we described the next color and the next animal. These books, with their repeated refrain and regular rhythm are wonderful at helping a child feel confident and at home in the language. They also help review concepts such as colors and sounds with your young listeners.

Nestled in the hills of western Massachusetts is the little town of Amherst where a very special museum opened its doors in 2002. The artwork of Eric Carle, illustrator of over seventy books, many of which he was also the author, along with the artwork of several other children's book illustrators hangs on the walls at eye level -- if you are five years old!

This museum was the idea of Eric Carle and his wife, Bobbi, who wanted to honor the amazing and beautiful artwork that fills the pages of children's books. Realizing that children enter the world of literature and art through the pages of children's picture books, Carle wanted to create a museum that not only honored the art but welcomed young children into the experience of looking at art in a museum setting.

The set up of the museum is extremely kid-friendly, with art low on the walls and available to be viewed by very short people. And it is not only Eric Carle's art that is displayed there. Art and illustrations from children's books by other American illustrators as well as by international illustrators can be seen hanging on the walls to be appreciated by young eyes.

If you enjoy picture book art and can make the visit to Amherst, Massachusetts, you will not be disappointed with your visit to the Eric Carle Museum.