From the Desk of Eric Carle

Books with an Extra Something

The Grouchy Ladybug, HarperCollins, 1977. This ladybug is not just grouchy, she’s fighting mad! She picks a fight with another ladybug, only to decide that she’s not big enough to satisfy the kind of fight this meany wants to have. As they turn the die-cut pages that grow larger as the ladybug picks on increasingly larger animals, children learn a social lesson about acceptance, while also learning about size and telling time.

The Very Busy Spider, Philomel Books, 1984. A spider spends a very busy day spinning a web, repeatedly ignoring all the barnyard animals that try to distract her. The repetition of the phrase “She was very busy spinning her web” and the raised spider web that grows with every page are sure to engage even the earliest readers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Penguin, 1969. For years, kids have loved watching this little caterpillar grow from an egg into a cocoon and then into a beautiful butterfly for years, and they will keep cherishing it for years to come. Carle’s vibrant collage illustrations and die-cut pages teach the days of the week, counting and the benefits of good nutrition.