Celebrating Children’s Author and Gardener Eric Carle

June 25, 1929

On this day, the American illustrator and writer Eric Carle was born.

Eric gave a commencement address at Bates College in 2007. He concluded with these words:

Love your partner and tend your garden.

Simplify, slow down, be kind.

And it was Eric Carle who said,

Whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful.

Eric had an extensive knowledge and love of nature. His early books include Nature Thoughts, Flower Thoughts, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and The Tiny Seed.

Finally, here's a beloved quote from Eric's most memorable work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar,

On Saturday, he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon.

That night, he had a stomach ache.