We all know – and love – Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is one of the bestselling and most read children’s books of all time. This colourful, rhythmic, interactive story is just one of Eric Carle’s wonderful creations – you can transform story time with 12 more Eric Carle books you’ll enjoy reading together.

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Eric Carle books have such a distinctive style – colourful illustrations, cute animals, engaging text, often rhyming verse. They make the perfect books for young children and the accompanying message, on anything from the lunar cycle and the natural world to colours and number recognition means there’s something to learn too.

In The Very Hungry Caterpillar, young children can learn the days of the week and all about the life cycle of the caterpillar, following from the egg on a leaf to the emergence of a beautiful butterfly.

This beloved book is just one of the fantastic creations from Carle. You may not be familiar with some of the others but they are all timeless classics that deserve a space on the bookshelf. We’ve picked some of our favourites below, all of which make a great choice for bedtime or story time together!

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Discover These Eric Carle Books

The Mixed Up Chameleon

The Mixed Up Chameleon is a captivating picture book from Eric Carle that teaches young children the key differences between animals and the importance of being yourself.

A chameleon’s antics with colour, shape and size show what makes each animal different and why it’s important to be yourself.

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The Bad-Tempered Ladybird

As children follow The Bad-Tempered Ladybird on her journey, they will meet a grouchy bug who won’t say “please” or “thank you,” won’t share, and thinks she is bigger and better than anyone else.

Readers will learn the important concepts of time, size, and shape, as well as the benefits of friendship and good manners.

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From Head to Toe

In From Head to Toe, “I can do it!” is the confidence-building message of this fun-filled interactive picture book.

A variety of familiar, colourful animals, invite young children to copy their antics as they wiggle, stomp, thump, and bend across the pages.

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Mister Seahorse

When Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs, she does it on Mister Seahorse‘s belly! She knows he will take good care of them.

While he swims waiting for the eggs to hatch, he meets other underwater fathers – Mr Stickleback, Mr Tilapia, Mr Kurtus and many other fish fathers caring for their eggs and babies in the most surprising ways.

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10 Little Rubber Ducks

“Ducks overboard!” shouts the captain, as a giant wave washes a box of 10 little rubber ducks off his cargo ship and into the sea. The ducks are swept away in various directions. One drifts west, where a friendly dolphin jumps over it. A whale sings to another. But as the sun sets, the 10th little rubber duck is left all alone, bobbing helplessly on the big wide sea. Small readers and listeners will rejoice at the heartwarming surprise ending.

Follow the little ducks as they float to all parts of the globe in 10 Little Rubber Ducks. Young explorers will learn numbers, counting and the meaning of directional words.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Written by Bill Martin, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? features Eric Carle’s distinctive illustrations.

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck – all parade across the pages of this classic children’s book in a delightful way to teach children about colours.

Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me

In this unique and delightful picture book, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me the story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward.

Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn’t easy to climb all the way up to the moon, but he finally succeeds – only to find that the moon is too big to carry home!

The Very Busy Spider

The Very Busy Spider is a great story for reading together and the rhyming text is really engaging.

A spider, blown by the wind to a fence post near a farmyard, begins to build her web and cannot be distracted from the task at hand – not by the horse, cow, sheep, goat, or dog. But when the rooster asks if she wants to catch a pesky fly, the busy spider is able to catch it in her web immediately!

The Tiny Seed

Little nature lovers will enjoy The Tiny Seed.

When the tiny seed is blown away from its parent plant, it travels a very long way – over seas, deserts and mountains. The tiny seed survives the hazards of the journey and finally falls onto fertile earth. It grows and grows, becoming the tallest, biggest flower for miles around. Then one day the wind blows and thousands of the flower’s seeds begin their own journeys.

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Today is Monday

In Today is Monday, learn the days of the week through song. String beans, spaghetti, ZOOOOP, roast beef, fresh fish, chicken and ice cream are the delicious fare during the week in this popular children’s song. Until Sunday – then, all the world’s children are invited to come together and share in the meal.

Little Cloud

The clouds drift across the bright blue sky – all except one. Little Cloud trails behind. He is busy changing shapes to become a fluffy sheep, a zooming airplane, and even a clown with a funny hat. Eric Carle’s trademark collages will make every reader want to run outside and discover their very own little cloud!

Does A Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? is a reassuring take of a mother’s love for her child and answers questions about whether lions, bears, and monkeys have mothers, too.

Meet the little joey bouncing in mother kangaroo’s pouch. Watch little cubs prance around mother lion. Swim with a baby dolphin calf in the deep blue sea.

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How many of these Eric Carle books have you read? Which one is your favourite? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!