Eric Carle

This is the week that we lost Eric Carle, a giant of the world of children’s literature. He wasn’t just an amazing illustrator and author, he was a champion of picture books for the preschool set–the very youngest readers.

Books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar (listen to Carle read his own words and get a glimpse of his studio here) and Brown Bear, Brown Bear are perfectly suited to children just learning about language, art, and story. Carle was one of the first to write and illustrate books for kids this young with superb dedication and artistry. These are books that are narratively elegant and visually stunning–those colors! Those pristine white backgrounds! Those simple and powerful shapes!

He brought not only his skill, but also his respect, to that audience. He is (present tense, always) a writer who understands the courage it takes to be two, or three, or four, or five, in a world that’s overwhelming both in its joys and its challenges.

Not everyone knows this, but when writing for kids, the younger the audience, the tougher the task. Carle took on the toughest audience of all and captivated them. He’ll be much missed.