Eric Carle quotes

Eric Carle was an American author and illustrator, best known for his beloved children's books such as "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." His distinctive collage-style artwork and simple storytelling have inspired generations of young readers. He remains celebrated worldwide for his contributions to early childhood literature. Here are 14 of his quotes:

We have eyes, and we're looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important. (Eric Carle)
They are deceptively simple. I admit that. But for me, all my life I try to simplify things. As a child in school, things were very hard for me to understand often, and I developed a knack, I think. I developed a process to simplify things so I would understand them. View quote
Eric Carle
One day I think it's the greatest idea ever that I'm working on. The next day I think it's the worst that I've ever worked on - and I swing between that a lot. Some days I'm very happy with what I'm doing, and the next day I am desperate - it's not working out! View quote
Eric Carle
You know, now it's sinking in. It's taken me a long time to realize - and it is sinking in - how important this book is. And I have a certain distance now. I've done it such a long time ago. View quote
Eric Carle
The hardest part is developing the idea, and that can take years. View quote
Eric Carle
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. View quote
Eric Carle
Ever since I was very young, as far back as I can remember, I have loved making pictures. I knew even as a child that, when I grew up, I would be an artist of some kind. The lovely feeling of my pencil touching paper, a crayon making a star shape in my sketchbook, or my brush dipping into bright and colorful paints - these things affect me as joyfully today as they did all those years ago. View quote
Eric Carle
He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself. He stayed inside for more than two weeks. Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and... he was a beautiful butterfly! View quote
Eric Carle
One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and - pop! - out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar. View quote
Eric Carle
Let's put it this way: if you are a novelist, I think you start out with a 20 word idea, and you work at it and you wind up with a 200,000 word novel. We, picture-book people, or at least I, start out with 200,000 words and I reduce it to 20. View quote
Eric Carle
Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don't forget to have art in your life - music, paintings, theater, dance, and sunsets. (Eric Carle)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar” story is about hope. You, like the little caterpillar, will grow up, unfold your wings and fly off into the future. View quote
Eric Carle
Papa, please get the moon for me. View quote
Eric Carle
That's something I learned in art school. I studied graphic design in Germany, and my professor emphasized the responsibility that designers and illustrators have towards the people they create things for. View quote
Eric Carle