We all know – and love – Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, one of the bestselling and best-loved children’s books of all time. This colourful, rhythmic, interactive story is just one of Eric Carle’s wonderful creations, and there are plenty more of his books worth adding to story time.
Eric Carle’s books have such a distinctive style – bright, tactile collage illustrations, cute animals, and engaging, often rhyming text. They’re perfect for young children, and many carry a gentle learning message too, from the lunar cycle and the natural world to colours, counting and days of the week.
In The Very Hungry Caterpillar, young children learn the days of the week and follow the life cycle of a caterpillar, from egg on a leaf to the emergence of a beautiful butterfly.
That beloved book is just one of Carle’s creations. You may not know all of the others, but they’re timeless classics that deserve a spot on the bookshelf. Here are 12 of our favourites for bedtime or story time together.
You may also enjoy: Goodnight Moon and More Marvellous Moon-Themed Books for Kids
Discover These Eric Carle Books
The Mixed Up Chameleon
[[IMG:1]]
The Mixed Up Chameleon is a captivating picture book that teaches young children the 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.
The Bad-Tempered Ladybird
[[IMG:2]]
As children follow The Bad-Tempered Ladybird on her journey, they’ll meet a grouchy bug who won’t say “please” or “thank you,” won’t share, and thinks she’s bigger and better than everyone else.
Readers will pick up ideas about time, size and shape, along with the value of friendship and good manners.
From Head to Toe
[[IMG:3]]
In From Head to Toe, “I can do it!” is the confidence-building message of this fun, interactive picture book.
A parade of familiar, colourful animals invites young children to copy their antics as they wiggle, stomp, thump and bend across the pages.
Mister Seahorse
[[IMG:4]]
When Mrs Seahorse lays her eggs, she lays them on Mister Seahorse‘s belly! She knows he’ll 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 more – all caring for their eggs and babies in surprising ways.
You may also enjoy: Learn More About Author and Illustrator Eric Carle
10 Little Rubber Ducks
[[IMG:5]]
“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 drift off in every direction. One heads west, where a friendly dolphin jumps over it. A whale sings to another. But as the sun sets, the tenth little duck is left bobbing alone on the wide sea – until a heartwarming surprise ending.
Follow the little ducks as they float to all corners of the globe in 10 Little Rubber Ducks. Young readers pick up numbers, counting and directional words along the way.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
[[IMG:6]]
Written by Bill Martin and illustrated by Eric Carle, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is a much-loved classic.
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse and a soft yellow duck all parade across the pages, teaching young children their colours in a delightfully rhythmic way.
Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me
[[IMG:7]]
In this unique and delightful picture book, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me literally unfolds as pages open outward and upward.
Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. Climbing all the way up to the moon isn’t easy, but he finally succeeds – only to find the moon is too big to carry home!
You may also enjoy: You’ll Love These 10 Ingenious Ideas for Kids Book Storage
Don’t Miss…
Cuddle up and get ready for a cosy bedtime with our list of 100 brilliant bedtime stories for kids and adults to enjoy together – all recommended by parents!
[[IMG:8]]
The Very Busy Spider
[[IMG:9]]
The Very Busy Spider is a lovely 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 can’t 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 snaps it up in her web straight away.
Today is Monday
[[IMG:10]]
In Today is Monday, little ones learn the days of the week through song. String beans, spaghetti, roast beef, fresh fish, chicken and ice cream make up the delicious fare through the week in this popular children’s song – until Sunday, when all the world’s children are invited to come together and share the meal.
The Tiny Seed
[[IMG:11]]
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. It survives the hazards of the journey and finally falls onto fertile earth, growing and growing into the tallest, biggest flower for miles around. Then one day the wind blows, and thousands of the flower’s own seeds begin their journeys.
You may also enjoy: 35 Exciting Books for Curious Kids to Learn about Nature
Little Cloud
[[IMG:12]]
Clouds drift across the bright blue sky – all except one. Little Cloud trails behind, busy changing shapes to become a fluffy sheep, a zooming aeroplane, and even a clown with a funny hat. Eric Carle’s trademark collages will make every reader want to run outside and find their very own little cloud.
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?
[[IMG:13]]
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? is a reassuring story about a mother’s love for her child, answering 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, and swim alongside a baby dolphin calf in the deep blue sea.
You may also enjoy: 18 Fun Potty Training Books Your Toddler Will Love
[[IMG:14]]
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are Eric Carle books suitable for?
Most of Eric Carle’s picture books suit babies through to early primary school age, roughly 1–6 years old. The simple, rhythmic text and bold illustrations make them great for very young children, while the gentle themes (colours, counting, days of the week, nature) work well for slightly older toddlers and preschoolers too.
Do I need to read Eric Carle’s books in order?
No – each of these books stands alone as its own story, so you can dip in and out and read them in whatever order suits your child’s interests.
Are Eric Carle books good for bedtime?
Yes, many of them are ideal for bedtime thanks to their calm, repetitive rhythm and gentle stories, though a few (like 10 Little Rubber Ducks or Brown Bear, Brown Bear) work equally well as playful daytime reads.
What is Eric Carle best known for?
Eric Carle is best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but he wrote and illustrated many more picture books using his signature hand-painted collage style.
Related Articles
- Goodnight Moon and More Marvellous Moon-Themed Books for Kids
- Learn More About Author and Illustrator Eric Carle
- You’ll Love These 10 Ingenious Ideas for Kids Book Storage
- 100 Best Ever Bedtime Stories for Kids, Recommended by Parents
- 35 Exciting Books for Curious Kids to Learn About Nature
- 18 Fun Potty Training Books Your Toddler Will Love
Keep the Story Time Ideas Coming
Loved this list? Browse more of our favourite children’s book round-ups and story time ideas any time you need fresh inspiration for the bookshelf.
Never Miss a Great Reading Idea
Want more book recommendations, activity ideas and family days out delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the MyKidsTime newsletter for weekly ideas, picked with busy parents in mind.
