Eric Carle was an American author, designer, and illustrator of children's books. He was born on June 25, 1929, in Syracuse, New York, and passed away on May 23, 2021. Carle is best known for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been translated into more than 60 languages and sold over 50 million copies worldwide since its publication in 1969.

Carle's distinctive style is characterized by his use of hand-painted tissue papers, which he cut and layered to create his colorful, textured illustrations. This technique has become iconic in the world of children's literature. Carle wrote and illustrated many other beloved books, such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (illustrated by Carle and written by Bill Martin Jr.), The Very Busy Spider, and The Grouchy Ladybug.

Throughout his career, Carle received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to children's literature. He also co-founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts, which aims to inspire a love of art and reading through the celebration of picture books from around the world.

Carle's work has had a lasting impact on generations of readers and continues to be cherished by children and adults alike for its imaginative storytelling and vibrant artwork.