Art of Eric Carle ANNOTATION
The noted author-illustrator discusses his life and art.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Eric Carle is one of the world's most beloved artists of children's books. Creator of the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, he has captured the imagination of millions of children and adults with his bold, colorful collage illustrations. Eric Carle's life and work are explored in this comprehensive portrait that includes more than sixty full-color illustrations from his books; artwork from his student days; a moving autobiographical account of his life, with photographs; anecdotal reflections by Ann Beneduce, his longtime friend and editor of The Very Hungry Caterpillar; essays on the power of his art by his German publisher, Viktor Christen, and Takeshi Matsumoto, curator at the Chihiro Iwasaki Museum in Tokyo; an insightful speech by Eric Carle originally given at the Children's Literature Center in the Library of Congress; a photographic essay on how he creates his collages; and a full-color illustrated bibliography of all of his books.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
This highly original collage of words and pictures by and about Eric Carle echoes Carle's artistic style, hailed by one contributor for its "powerful simplicity. . . clear shapes. . . bold colors. . . and the stories that teach without being didactic." Central to the book are Carle's autobiography, a reprint of his 1990 Library of Congress speech, and his art-a photo essay, book illustrations, and an international bibliography. Other voices add shading. A brief introduction, for example, in which Carle's American editor recounts their working relationship, provides critical context. His German editor examines the dramatic elements in Carle's stories. And a Japanese art curator speaks of colors "far beyond any human sense of color." Like Carle's books for children, the inviting page design encourages careful consideration of what he calls his "dabs of color"-the personal and professional influences upon artistic style. The book will engage adolescents and adults already familiar with Carle's work, but it is especially suited to professionals interested in the origins of creativity.-Sue Burgess, Framingham (MA) State College
Kirkus Reviews
The Art Of Eric Carle ( Sept. 4, 1996; 125 pp.; 0-399- 22937-X): An agreeable overview of Carle's life and work, a consideration of the genesis of his ideas, a look at how he fashions his collages, and admiring words from some of his colleagues. There are repetitions, e.g., the story of how The Very Hungry Caterpillar came into existence is related at least three times. Throughout are photographs and reproductions of art; the book closes with more samples of Carle's work and an international bibliography of his published books.
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