Eric Carle

Date of Birth: June 25, 1929

Place of Birth: Syracuse, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: May 23, 2021

Place of Death: Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.

Ethnicity: German, Irish

Eric Carle was an American children’s book author, designer, and illustrator. He became known after his collaboration on the book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?,” and is perhaps most famous for his picture book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” (1969).

He was the son of German parents, Johanne Katherine and Erich Wilhelm Carle, a civil servent. When he was six, his family returned to Stuttgart, Germany, where he was educated. His father fought for Germany in WWII, and was taken prisoner by the Soviets, being released after the war. Eric spent time in Schwenningen to escape the bombing of Stuttgart, and was conscripted at fifteen to dig trenches at the Siegfried Line. He returned to the U.S. in 1952, settling in New York City. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

Eric was married to Barbara Morrison, until her death, and had two children.

Eric’s paternal grandfather was Gustav Freidrich Carle (the son of Karl Gottlieb Carle and Friederika Mezger).

Eric’s paternal grandmother was Sophia Pauline Karoline Feutcher (the daughter of Johann Christian Feutcher and Christina Pauline Loechner).

Eric’s maternal grandfather was named Karl Oelschläger/Ohlschläger.

Eric’s maternal grandmother was Anna Beuthin (the daughter of George Lincoln Patten and Catherine M. Walters). Catherine was born in Galway, Ireland.