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A video interview with

Eric Carle

Eric Carle, the author and illustrator of many classic children’s books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, opened the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts in 2002. The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer filmed the grand opening and graciously shared their interview with Eric Carle.

Click on the links below§ to watch this interview online, or read the interview transcript. You can also read a short biography of Eric Carle or see a selected list of his children's books.

View online

Big, bold shapes (1:00)
In this video clip, Eric Carle explains how he started illustrating children's books.
Visual pollution (1:00)
As a creator and lover of beauty, Eric Carle feels a responsibility to make art that "doesn't pollute your eye."
Reduce, reduce, reduce (1:30)
In this video clip, Carle explains that while his final product may look simple, it didn't start out that way.
The idea is the hard part (1:00)
Carle explains why some books take longer than others.
How a green worm became a beautiful butterfly (1:00)
Eric Carle tells the story behind one very famous caterpillar.
A book of hope (1:20)
Eric Carle speculates why The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been so popular.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (:30)
As schools cut funding for the arts, Eric Carle sees his new picture book museum as one way to fill the gap.
Nothing scientific about it (:30)
In this video clip, Eric Carle discusses the ups and downs in the life of an artist.

^§ To play this clip, you'll need a copy of the free RealOne Player. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.

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