Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions


This is where I share with you some of the questions people ask most frequently. Some of my favorite ones have come from people who ask interesting questions. These readers have given a lot of thought to my books, and I appreciate that.

At the bottom of this page you will find links to all six volumes of my newsletter "The Caterpillar Express."



[whichline] What comes first, the story or the pictures? Where do ideas come from?
[makepicline] How do you make your pictures?
[howlongline] How long does it take to make a book?
[cavemanline] Do you ever use a computer?
[scissorline] Is it true that you work with an editor?
[ladybugline] Why do you use small creatures in your books most of the time?
[favartistline] Who are your favorite artists?
[sisterline] Do you have brothers and sisters? a wife? children? pets?
[favcolorline] What is your favorite color?
[favbkline] What is your favorite book that you've written?
[catpawline] Do you have any hobbies?
[catpawline] When did you decide to start writing and illustrating books?
[cookline] Did you ever want to be anything other than an artist, like a fireman?
[monkeyline] How did you get interested in art?
[scribbleline] Did you scribble when you were a little boy?
[goatline] When did you grow your beard?
[ECartistline] Are you an artist?
[germanline] Do you speak another language besides English?
[butterflyline] Many of you ask, why the butterfly in The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes from a cocoon, not a chrysalis?
[fireflyline] How are the spider web in The Very Busy Spider, the chirp in The Very Quiet Cricket and the flashing lights in The Very Lonely Firefly made?
[seahorse] Why does Mister Seahorse look different from some of your other books and why isn't there an acetate sheet after Mr. Pipe?
[elephantline] Can you come to our school and meet us?
[snailline] How can I get in touch with Eric Carle?
[duckline] Where can I purchase posters and lithographs of your art work as well as other items based on your collage illustrations?

Caterpillar Express
An Occasional Newsletter from Eric Carle

To download the complete editions of my newsletters, click on the links below. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents. If you do not already have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, it is available for free from the Adobe web site.