There is a lot to do in late summer. There are parks and museums to visit, pools to swim in, oceans to explore, backyard adventures, and even insects to observe. But even if you never leave your own neighborhood, you can explore these and more when you look through the pages of books.
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.
