The Early Years
Eric Carle was born on June 25th, 1929 in Syracuse, New York. However, he didn't live in New York for very long. At the age of six he and his family moved to Germany. He studied here and attended the prestigious art school The Academy of Visual Arts. During WWII Carle was enlisted by the German army at the age of 15 to dig trenches on the front. This is a time in his life he never talks about and his wife believes he still struggles with PTSD. During this time he often thought of America and he always dreamt of going back 'home', so in 1952 with $40 in his pocket he returned to New York. He soon found a job as a graphic designer for The New York Times. He was also the art director of an advertising agency.
Illustrator then Author
Bill Martin Jr. saw an advertisement that Carle did of a lobster and fell in love with his artwork. He contacted Eric Carle and asked him to illustrate his book. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?" Carle agreed. This is where he began to fall in love with writing children's books. He was inspired by the process and wrote "1,2,3, to the Zoo." This was soon followed by the classic, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." His love for nature and animals are easily found in his books. He has gone on to write or illustrate over 60 books and has even opened his own children's book museum. Eric Carle has such a unique and recognizable art style and has brought joy to the hearts of many children.
What is Eric Carle Doing Now?
Eric Carle, at the age of 85, continues to make art and keep up with his blog and website. He has two grown children, a daughter Cirsten. and a son Rolf. He spends time with his wife Barbara and they divide their time between the Florida Keys, and the rolling hills of North Carolina.