On June 25, Eric Carle, the prolific illustrator and writer of picture books, or as he prefers to call himself, “picture writer”, will be turning 90 years old. In addition, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, his most well-known book, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Carle has illustrated over 70 children’s books, most of which were done with his colorful tissue paper collages and all of which display his love of nature.
Why not celebrate through exploring his books, learning more about him, or creating some of your own collages? The Lititz Public Library has plenty to satisfy your Eric Carle curiosity, no matter how old you are.
For the whole family
Eric Carle: Picture Writer (DVD)
Eric Carle himself discusses the inspiration for his work, reads excerpts from his stories, and shows how he makes collages… which is messy, but fun.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories (DVD)
See five of Carle’s stories animated in this short movie, including “I See a Song” and “The Mixed-Up Chameleon.”
The Art of Eric Carle by Eric Carle
Adults will get great enjoyment from the essays, which include a brief yet fascinating autobiography, and the collection of his art is sure to intrigue all ages.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
This is the first children’s book that Carle illustrated. The style is slightly different from that of his other books. Carle illustrated “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” before he started painting his one-of-a-kind tissue papers.
“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” Said the Sloth by Eric Carle
A menagerie of animals ask an eloquent sloth why he is the way he is in this amusing story. Also includes information about sloths by Jane Goodall.
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
This insightful tale about grouchiness, politeness, time, and size stars many creatures, including a delightfully slappy whale.
A House for a Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Spend a year with a hermit crab as he goes about making his new shell feel more and more like a cozy home.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A long-time favorite worldwide, a caterpillar crawls his way through the days of the week and many meals on unique, die-cut pages.
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle
In this homage to the artist Franz Marc, Carle encourages imaginative art as he depicts animals in unexpected colors.
Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle
Learn about complementary colors through fun optical tricks at Little Frog’s birthday party.
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Discover the many possible obstacles a seed has to avoid in order to make it from seed to flower in this story of growth, travel, and the changing of the seasons.
1-2-3 I Can Collage! by Irene Luxbacher
In this kid-friendly guide to making collages, learn the basics of six different techniques to make some friendly sea creatures.
For Adults
Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color by Leatrice Eiseman
Get inspiration for different color themes and combinations in this celebration of color.
The Organic Artist: Make Your Own Paint, Paper, Pigments, and More from Nature by Nick Neddo
Take your art to a new level by turning to nature rather than the art store for your supplies. Learn how to make your own pens and paintbrushes, create your own ink and paint, and much more.
Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects by Bee Shay
Learn about various collage techniques with suggestions of variations for 52 experimental art projects.
The Art of Paper Collage by Susan Pickering Rothamel
Step-by-step instructions, explorations of many techniques, and a diverse gallery featuring several artists make this a solid introduction to creating collages.
Kathryn Raynor
June 19, 2019