Eric Carle's Animals Animals [Paperback]

Laura Whipple (Compiler), Eric Carle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A dynamic collection from the internationally-acclaimed author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

From leaping, flying fish to dancing butterflies, and camels that "trollop along," Eric Carle's brilliant and colorful collage designs bring to life animal poems from such diverse sources as Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and Jack Prelutsky, as well as Bible verses, Japanese haiku, American Indian poems and more. This celebration of the wonder and variety of earth's animals is "joyous...a book to be shared" (Booklist, starred review).

* An ALA Notable Book
* A Child Study Children's Book Committee Children's Book of the Year
* An IRA Teachers' Choice Book
* An NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children
* A Booklist Editors' Choice Book
* A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
* A Redbook Top Ten Picture Book

* A Picture Puffin
* Full-color illustrations
* 96 pages
* All ages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Eric Carle's distinctive art holds a place of honor in the world of children's books. (He is the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the illustrator of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?.) In this thoughtfully selected collection of poems about animals, you'll meet creatures of every sort, from an ant to a yak. You'll find selections from many cultures, penned by celebrated poets such as Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and Jack Prelutsky. Animals, Animals is best suited for older preschoolers and children in the early elementary grades, but the beautiful illustrations will please children of any age, including babies. The oversized format lends itself well to Eric Carle's bright collages--the animals, birds, and insects seem ready to jump or fly right off the pages. (Ages 1 to 8) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Inspired by a wide-ranging array of animal poems and poets from Benjamin Franklin to Clarence Day, Carle "depicts his menagerie at full tilt, with sensuous succulence," said PW. All ages. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698118553
• ISBN-13: 978-0698118553
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Carle, Eric
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Poetry > General
  • #87 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > General > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for young children.


Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, and moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. After graduating from art school, he returned to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories, and found work as a graphic designer.


After seeing an advertisement designed by Eric, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with its distinctive collage style, was the result of their collaboration. This favorite was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Eric was writing his own stories, developing a close bond with Ann Beneduce, the founder of Philomel Books, who would be his editor for nearly 40 years. In 1969 they published the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Since this beginning, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.


The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. He says "I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born.
Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."


Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife Barbara divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite of my two-year-old twins, March 3, 2006

By 

Etz (Nashua, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eric Carle's Animals Animals (Hardcover)

I had this book on the top shelf of the kids' (two year old boy and girl) bookcase for safe-keeping until they got a little older and a little better at page-turning. It's far too nice a book, I thought, to be torn and wrinkled by a couple of toddlers who can't even appreciate it. It contains a wonderful variety of poems, and Eric Carle's artwork is stunning. He devotes a two-page spread to most of the animals; the whale at the beginning takes up four pages.

At one point, one of the children spotted this book and expressed an interest, so I got it down and read a few poems to them. I carefully replaced it on the top shelf. They began requesting it more and more, and soon protested when I returned it to the shelf beyond their reach. I gave in, and let them leaf through it -- under my supervision. Finally realizing that it was senseless to limit their handling of this book they so obviously enjoyed, I moved the pristine hardcover to a lower shelf.

I had no idea that two-year-olds would enjoy this poetry so much. While some of the poems are certainly at their language level, many are more advanced, and the kids request those just as often. I frequently find them looking through the book, naming the animals ("duck-billed platypus") and quoting portions of the poems ("lays eggs like a bird").

Now my son cannot even bear to part with this book at night, so it (along with a few others) goes into the crib with him. The binding is loosening and a few pages are torn, but I'll gladly spend another $22.99 to replace it, if necessary. It's a small price to pay for what may become a real love and appreciation for poetry.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging graphics and enjoyable text for all ages., March 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Eric Carle's Animals Animals (Hardcover)

I have owned this book for several years; I originally bought it thinking the bright and engaging portraits of animals would surely delight my young child. Since then all our children have enjoyed hearing the poems and laughing at, studying, copying, and perusing the creatures that share our earth. A lyrical book, both in text and picture layout, which we won't easily part with for some time, I'm sure.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Inimitable Eric Carle, April 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Eric Carle's Animals Animals (Hardcover)

From Ogden Nash to Shakespeare, from haiku to Hungarian proverbs, ANIMALS ANIMALS has it all--and it all is illustrated beautifully by the inimitable Eric Carle. His trademark collage-style pictures and jewel-tone colors bring to life an entire zoo in this collection of short poems and poetic sayings about animals. Ants and elephants, octopuses and walruses, and many other delightfully quirky animals tumble playfully across the pages, vividly animating the lovingly selected verses. No need to read it at one sitting, or even sequentially; just open the covers and let the pages fall where they may. This refreshing and entertaining picture book is sure to engage the most restless reader or listener of any age.