> Skip to content
Eric Carle


Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has been translated into 70 languages and sold over 55 million copies. Carle illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 170 million copies of his books have sold around the world. In 2003, Carle received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award) for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 2002, Eric and his wife, Barbara, cofounded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (www.carlemuseum.org) in Amherst, Massachusetts, a 40,000-square-foot space dedicated to the celebration of picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world, underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form. Eric Carle passed away in May 2021 at the age of 91. His work remains an important influence on artists and illustrators at work today. www.eric-carle.com

More features

Article
Ways to keep busy this long weekend

Activities to keep the children engaged this weekend (regardless of the weather!)

Article
QUIZ: Which classic picture book do you belong in?

Take this fun quiz to find out which classic picture book you belong in.

Article
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Wild Animal Hide and Seek activity pack

Cut out wild animals to play hide and seek around the house!

Article
Collage with Eric Carle

Follow the steps to make your own Very Hungry Caterpillar collage.

Article
Children's books loved by the Obamas

Here's a selection of children's stories that have received a big thumbs up from Barack and Michelle Obama. 

Article
A new colouring in page every day!

Parents: Click here for 10 minutes of peace. (You're welcome).

Video
Happy Birthday Very Hungry Caterpillar! | 50 years of the Very Hungry Caterpillar

To celebrate the 50th birthday of the The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, we asked a few of our friends if they had anything they’d like to say to our favourite hungry critter! #VHC50