Eric Carle (1929-2021) was the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But that’s not the only reason why he received nearly 10,000 fan letters every year. Carle wrote or illustrated more than 70 other children’s books, including favorites such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Very Quiet Cricket. Carle made these friendly insects and animals by painting on tissue paper, cutting out shapes, and pasting them together. The bold, eye-catching collages pop off the page in vibrant colors and rich textures. Even so, it is the “simple, simple feelings,” Carle believed, that have made his books so popular with young children.
Eric Garcia is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist focused on politics and policy and currently the senior Washington correspondent for The Independent. In our interview, Garcia talks about autism myths, recognizing the gifts and abilities of autistic people, how teachers can help their autistic students succeed and realize their potential, the role of accessible classrooms, autism and equity, how autistic people are portrayed in the media, and more.
Eric Rohmann believes that each story needs illustrations that match its tone, content, and sensibility. As a children’s book illustrator, this means knowing how and when to use different media and techniques. For The Cinder-Eyed Cats Rohmann painted with oils. For his Caldecott Medal book, My Friend Rabbit, he used wood cuts. For his 2008 picture book, A Kitten’s Tale, Rohmann spent two months experimenting with a watercolor ink he had never used before. Trying new media can be scary, Rohmann admits, but it also keeps his artwork fresh. “Anxiety’s a good thing,” he says with a smile, “even for a children’s book illustrator.”
“You know what?” Erica S. Perl is the author of the wonderfully silly, begging-to-be-read-aloud picture book, Chicken Butt, as well as the sequel, Chicken Butt’s Back. Kirkus Review calls Chicken Butt “an unhinged piece of slap-happy rhyming rocket-propelled artwork the romp is a powerful piece of cacophony, more frenetic by the moment.” Perl’s other titles for young readers include Dotty, a gently told, perceptive story about school days and imaginary friends and Ninety-Three in My Family, a lively rhyming story that is part tall tale and part counting book. Her books tap deep into what’s funny, what’s real, family, friends, and growing up.
