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The Very Lonely Firefly [Hardcover]

Eric Carle
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)

List Price: $22.99
Price: $15.52 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Hardcover $11.66  
Hardcover, June 1, 1995 $15.52  
Paperback $3.59  
Board book $8.63  
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Book Description

June 1, 1995 1 - 6 years530L (What's this?)
When a very lonely firefly goes out into the night searching for other fireflies, it sees a lantern, a candle, and the eyes of a dog, cat, and owl all glowing in the darkness. It even sees a surprise celebration of light. But it is not until it discovers other fireflies that it finds exactly what it's looking for.

Read it with a flashlight in the dark or under the table--and watch those fireflies glow!

Frequently Bought Together

The Very Lonely Firefly + The Very Quiet Cricket + The Very Clumsy Click Beetle (Eric Carle's Very Series)
Price for all three: $47.53

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Many of Eric Carle's books begin with a small creature being born just as a great yellow sun rises. This time the hero is a firefly, and the inimitably Carle-ish cut-paper orange-and-yellow sun is setting. The firefly buzzes off in search of companionship, but keeps following other lights by mistake--a candle, a flashlight, a lantern--and these in turn are all leading in the direction of a fireworks display. Finally, the lonely firefly finds the friends it is seeking--a dozen or more other fireflies. This is one of a series of large (11.5 by 8.5 inches) format Carle books with a mechanical twist: in this case, the firefly's new group of friends start to flash (from tiny yellow bulbs embedded in the book) as you turn the last page. (The battery is replaceable.) (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr

From Publishers Weekly

With characteristic simplicity-and the now expected visual "surprise" at book's end-Carle delivers another heartwarming tale about a diminutive creature on a quest. In the author/artist's words, his latest story "is about belonging." As the sun sets, a firefly is born: "It stretched its wings and flew off into the darkening sky." Searching for other fireflies, the lonely little guy flies hopefully toward other lights (a bulb in a window, a candle, a flashlight, the shining eyes of an owl, car headlights, fireworks), only to discover that they are not what he is looking for. Youngsters will be as tickled as the no-longer-lonely firefly to find, on the last spread, "a group of fireflies, flashing their lights"-with the help of replaceable batteries (final version not seen by PW). Carle's richly hued, collage-like art and gentle text will be comfortingly familiar to his numerous young devotees. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Age Range: 1 - 6 years
  • Hardcover: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Philomel; First Edition edition (June 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399227741
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399227745
  • Product Dimensions: 12 x 0.9 x 8.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

He can't wait to get to the last page to see all the fireflies light up. Barbara J. French  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
It is a board book that is easy to read, and is entertaining. Brown1  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
Very disappointing that I already have to change the batteries. AkhMISC  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it! May 8, 2004
Format:Board book
Okay, don't even hesitate on this book, just buy it! The fireflies light up at the end of the book and there just couldn't be any child anywhere that wouldn't be thrilled with this book. Mine just played and played with it and couldn't put it down. Still is one of his favorites and has to be read VERY frequently! This is such a cute, cute book and very well done. Plus, it has fireworks in it - another household favorite! It goes through and shows the many things that light up at night, explaining them very well. Just grab it and run - you won't be disappointed!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Great First Bedtime Book April 23, 2003
By CR
Format:Board book
I've been sharing this with my daughter since she was about 7 months old. She was a little antsy the first time through, but when we reached the lights she fell in love with the book. It is her favorite of the Eric Carle books (although she really likes sticking her fingers in the holes of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.) My daughter is now 20 months old and asks for this story every night. Her vocabulary is growing with each rereading and she is able to point out most objects (firefly, candle, lantern, dog, cat, flashlight, lights) to me. I am surprised at how much she enjoys it and find this is one book I don't mind reading every night.

The batteries are the only problem. The first set finally died after a year of steady use, and the second set didn't last very long. (I suspect she left the boook open all day.) I am having trouble finding replacements that don't cost more than the book, but the book is so enjoyable I don't mind.

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A sparkler! April 23, 2001
Format:Hardcover
This is an information book about a lonely firefly searching for other fireflies. The search leads him to other sources of light such as light, candle, and flashlight. The text may be a little weak but that is what gives you time to add science discussion or what we feel like when we are feeling lonely. The last page is the best and sparks in those little eyes makes it all worthwhile!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars The last page does not light up.
I expected the last page to light up, and it does not. The story is fine, but don't expect the lightening bugs to light up at the end.
Published 14 days ago by Connie Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Just what I was looking for as fireflies hold a special place in our hearts. This book is even better because it was Eric Carle
Published 1 month ago by Martha W. Fowler
3.0 out of 5 stars This book gets forgotten
It si a cute book, but gets left on the bookcase for some reason. Each page is a bit repetitive. My daughter gets bored with it.
Published 1 month ago by HGTM
1.0 out of 5 stars Dissatisifed
There is nothing wrong about the contents of the book but the details furnished is not matching. The details says it has a mechanical firefly with leds embedded with it so that... Read more
Published 1 month ago by sk
5.0 out of 5 stars FYI!
Of course this particular version DOES NOT LIGHT UP.
It is an easy reader, not the picture book with the lights at the end of the book. Just be aware. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Library Lady
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!
The Very Lonely Firefly is a wonderful for book for children who are learning how to read. The pictures are easy to follow.
Published 2 months ago by Joyce Lorance
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a cute book
We saw this book at our local library story time and my child loved it. We have fireflies in our backyard so it really captured our hearts. Read more
Published 2 months ago by mominco
5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL BOOK!
This is a wonderful book - and the little fireflies do indeed light up! It so much fun for a child. The artwork is gorgeous; it is so colorful!
Published 3 months ago by Joan Fernandez
1.0 out of 5 stars BE CAREFUL WHICH VERSION YOU BUY
All the reviews are for the "board book." The paperback version does NOT light up at the end. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stephanie L
2.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but the lights DO NOT WORK!
I am giving 2 stars because this book was delivered to me with dead (or no) batteries, or the lights just don't work. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JustMe
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