Carle, Eric, 1929-2021

Eric Carle (June 25, 1929 – May 23, 2021) was an illustrator and writer of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle was born on June 25, 1929, in Syracuse, New York. They family moved, when he was six years old to Stuttgart, Germany, where his parents were born. He eventually returned to New York City in 1952 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Later he became the art director of an advertising agency.

Educator and author Bill Martin Jr. noticed the illustration of a red lobster Carle had created for an advertisement and asked him to collaborate on a picture book. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was published by Henry Holt & Co. in 1967 and became a best-seller.

With his wife, he founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art devoted to the art of children's books in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Carle received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities including Williams College in 2016, Smith College in 2014, Appalachian State University in 2013 and from Bates College in 2007.

Carle died on May 23, 2021, at his studio home in Northampton, Massachusetts, from kidney failure, just over a month before his 92nd birthday.