I am delighted to share a sneak preview of my new book FRIENDS that will be available in bookstores later this year.
FRIENDS is a story inspired by more than one friendship in my own life, one that I had as a three year old boy, as a 6 year old taken by my parents to Germany, and another as a young man when I arrived back in the United States from Germany with my portfolio in hand. That was in 1952 when Leo Lionni was so kind to me, helping me to find work as a graphic designer and became my mentor. I have always believed that friendship is very important, I know it was for me as a child and I can still remember my strong attachments and feelings for my friends when I was a boy.
I will share more news about FRIENDS closer to its publication date, but I hope you will enjoy this sneak preview of the cover illustration!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the more than 70 picture books that I have written and/or illustrated. I was born in the U.S. and was raised in Germany. My background is in graphic design but since the late 1960's when I illustrated Bill Martin Jr's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I have been creating books for children. My illustrations are collages made with my own hand-painted tissue papers, a technique many children have replicated and enjoyed in their classrooms and at home. With my late wife Barbara, I am also the cofounder of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA.