The Very Quiet Cricket [Paperback]

Eric Carle (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Philomel Books (1990)
• ASIN: B000OQHC3S
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)

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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, and with a surprise at the end, May 22, 2006

By 

A. Woodley "Patroness, Janeites, the Austen list" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Quiet Cricket Board Book (Board book)

Next to the Hungry Caterpillar this is one of our favourite books in the house, and a favourite Carle book. We have this in board book as we have had this book since my kids were babies. It is still popular as it is really also an early reader - recognising various animals in the garden (although not all are relevant)

This is about a cricket who makes no sound, he meets various other insects in his quest to find out what sound he makes, but he can't do anything.

Finally on the last page he meets another cricket, and makes a sound. The nice surprise is that there is a sensor and when you open that page the sensor sets off a lovely cricket sound (doesn't it remind you of summer nights)

Lovely illustrations, a bit of a quizzical looking cricket, but cut and appealing. Nice use of language and a simple idea which is easily followed through.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A young cricket attempts to respond to passerbys, but fails., February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Very Quiet Cricket Board Book (Board book)

This is a wonderful book for children. The illustrations are colorful, and Carle's unique technique of introducing new vocabulary into the young child's mind is extraordinary! The various insects in their own individual portrait, create a distinct mood all of their own. The repetition makes it easy for children to interact and respond with the reader, which builds and develops in the child not only a sense of accomplishment, but also a personal identification with the written literature. Most of all, children are always fascinated by the "surprise" ending!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites!, August 23, 2004

By 

David Swanson (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Very Quiet Cricket Board Book (Board book)

This was one of my first Eric Carle books. It's a very friendly book featuring a baby cricket, new to the world being greeted by a variety of friendly insects.

It's also a wonderful way to introduce children to many different kinds of insects, all wonderfully illustrated.

The story is written in a way where a poetic rhythm can be created easily that's carried from page to page to help with certain emphasis that builds expectation. That's seems to be the case with most of Erics books. Simple stories and repetition for emphasis.

Throught this story "the very quite cricket wants to say hello so he rubs his legs together and nothing happens not a sound!"

It ends with the very quite cricket meeting another cricket who is also very quiet. this time when he rubs his legs together you turn the page and here an actual cricket chirp which is sampled or synthisized onto a little chip with replaceble batteries inserted into the back cover controlled by a simple attachment thats activated when you turn the last page. Pretty cool! I love it and so do my kids!