Historical Figure
Eric Carle
d. 2021
American author and illustrator (1929–2021)
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Biography
Eric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
Timeline
The story of Eric Carle, told in moments.
Drafted into the German army at 15. Dug trenches on the Siegfried Line. Survived. Returned to Stuttgart and studied at the Akademie der bildenden Kunste.
Moved back to the United States with $40 in his pocket. Got a job as a graphic designer at The New York Times. Then served in the U.S. Army in Korea.
Published The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The book used actual holes punched through the pages. It sold over 50 million copies and was translated into more than 66 languages.
Died at his summer studio in Northampton, Massachusetts, at 91. He'd illustrated more than 70 books. Over 145 million copies sold worldwide. A caterpillar made him immortal.
In Their Own Words (1)
Artifacts (15)
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