Though he was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, Eric Carle did most of his growing up in Germany, where he moved with his parents at the age of six. While there he was educated at Akademie der bildenden Künste, in Stuttgart, a prestigious art school.
He returned to America in 1952 where he found a job as a graphic designer for The New York Times. One particular advertisement designed by Mr. Carle caught the eye of author/educator, Bill Martin Jr., and he contacted him to see if he would be interested in illustrating one of his books. What was born of this collaboration was the great classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See?, and the real beginning of Eric Carle's career! (Together Mr. Carle and Mr. Martin also produced Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?, and Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?)
