Interviews
On Thursday, July 17th, barnesandnoble.com welcomed Eric Carle, author of FROM HEAD TO TOE.
Moderator: Welcome, Mr. Carle! We're so glad you could join us tonight in the Live Events Auditorium! Is this your first live event online?
William Bosky from Boca Raton, FL: How long did the artwork take to do for FROM HEAD TO TOE?
Eric Carle: The artwork took perhaps two or three weeks, but the preliminary work, the sketches, took months -- a couple of years.
Roger from Oregon: What other illustrators' work are you impressed by? Are you friends with any of them?
Eric Carle: The other picture book artists that I like are Maurice Sendak, Leo Leonni, Jose Aruego, Lisbeth Zwerger, Mitsumasa Anno, Ezra Keats...these are the first who come to my mind. I know them, but I am not close friends with them.
Winston Hadley from Virginia: Do you get your art supplies from any particular source, or are they just standard art store things? How about the tissue paper?
Eric Carle: I've been using the tissue papers for a long time, and I am always looking for the "perfect" tissue papers. Lately, I've been using tissue papers from Kate's Paperie in SoHo. All the other art materials I just buy from an art store around the corner from where I work. My art materials are very simple materials, really. Acrylic paints, brushes, tissue papers, and wallpaper glue, which I mix with a little bit of Elmer's Glue, for pasting down the colored tissue papers to make a collage.
Quentin from Jasper, WY: Hello, Mr. Carle! I love your books. What happens to the artwork after you are done with a book? The originals, I mean. And is it hard to work with tissue paper? It must take patience not to tear it.
Eric Carle: The artwork belongs to me. After the publisher has used my illustrations to make the books, they are returned to me. To make collages from the tissue papers is a matter of practice, and after a while it is very easy to do that.
Rory from Florida: Hey Eric, it is great to talk to one of the most popular children's authors ever. I have three questions for you 1) I am planning to write a book of commentaries soon (I am going into the 8th grade at the end of August and thought that December would be the perfect time to start). When I start this book, should I think of what commentaries I want to write? Do some research? What should I do? 2) How do you overcome writer's block? 3) How much time do you spend writing and illustrating? 4) Before this next question, I just want to say that my little sister loved THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR. How do you bring all these wonderful characters to life? Did you just draw them on paper and figure that they were perfect for a story?
Eric Carle: Yes, think about the commentaries, and yes, do research. It is important to ask the right questions when you interview people. From my experience, I have found some interviewers to be better than others, and if the interviewer is good, then I can give good answers. To overcome writer's block First, I suffer through it, then I clean up my studio, sharpen my pencils, procrastinate a little more, and then sit down and do my work. Number 3 is hard to answer. I think a lot about my work, and about writing, but that doesn't mean I sit at my desk and write all the time. Actually, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR started out this way I had a stack of papers, and with a hole-puncher punched holes in that stack of papers. When I looked at the holes, I thought about a bookworm. The bookworm I changed into a green worm, and then the green worm was finally changed into a caterpillar. That's how THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR started.
Theresa Robertson from Newton, MA: Eric, I just wanted to say thank you for giving me and my children such wonderful books to read together. We are big fans. Thank you!
Eric Carle: Thank you!
Deirdre from Bronxville, NY: What was it like living in Stuttgart? I hear it is a beautiful city -- have you been back recently? Why does Massachusetts suit you?
Eric Carle: Stuttgart is a very beautiful city. But there are many aspects to having lived there, both joyful and sad. The sad part has to do with the war, and the bombing; the joyful part has to do with my friends and relatives. Yes, I visit Stuttgart every so often. My sister, who is 21 years younger than I am, and to whom I've dedicated THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, still lives in the Stuttgart area with her family. Well, Massachusetts reminds me of the Stuttgart area. The hills and valleys are similar. I could never live in an area that is totally flat.
Lesley from New York: Do you ever visit schools and talk to the students about being an author/illustrator? If so, what do you like most about school visits? Do you ever visit schools in New York City?
Eric Carle: I visited schools for the first 25 years of my career as a children's book author, and very much enjoyed doing that. But on my 60th birthday, I gave myself the gift of not traveling so much anymore. Also, it is very important for me to stay in my studio as much as possible and do my work, because I still have so many ideas to work on.
Harold Rolpf from Los Angeles, CA: Your forthcoming book is being billed as "stories from your life." What can we expect to read about, and is this book for children?
Eric Carle: The idea for FLORA AND TIGER began several years ago because a number of teachers and children have asked me if I would write a book for older children. One child asked me, would I ever write a "real" book? Another child asked if I would write a book for parents. I am not so sure about the age group for this book. I can imagine it being read to young children, but also to be enjoyed by teens, and anyone -- teachers, parents, librarians -- who are interested in my work and my life. It is not an autobiography, but this book will give you autobiographical glimpses into my life. FLORA AND TIGER deals with three subjects dear to my heart. Animals and insects, friends and relatives, and myself.
Dr. Harris's Class from Lubbock, TX: Where is this being broadcast from? We are watching this during our Children's Lit graduate class.
Eric Carle: Hello, friends in Lubbock, Texas! I was just signing books in Texas not too long ago, and you are a bunch of wonderful people. This interview is being conducted in my studio.
Rachel Sherman, five years old, from Baltimore, MD: I love your books, especially MY APRON. What will your next book be about?
Eric Carle: And to continue from my last answer This live chat format is a first for me! Now to RachelSee the answer above!
Georgette from Hackensack, NJ: Do you have any children of your own? Are your books dedicated to anyone in particular? Thank you for answering.
Eric Carle: Yes, I have children of my own. I have a daughter, her name is Cirsten, and I have a son whose name is Rolf. Both are adults now. Your question about the dedications is interesting. Of course, each book is dedicated to a person that I care for, respect, and love. Sometimes I like to give a speech, or write a book, in which I would explain my relationship with these people, these friends or relatives I've dedicated a book to. Georgette, I love your question about the dedications. I've had so many wonderful people in my life who've influenced and nurtured me. Incidentally, I often (but not always) insert the letters "R" and "C" in one of the illustrations of the book. You have to search for them. "C" of course stands for Cirsten, and "R" for Rolf. You can see they are very important to me.
Dawn from Houston, TX: Eric, do you use live models to do your sketches, or do you do them from memory?
Eric Carle: I use some from my memory, some I sketch from life, and some I look up in books.
Alexander Lehnen from New York City: Just great to see you on the Internet DIE RAUPE NIMMERSATT was my favorite book when I was little. I never knew you lived in the U.S. in the first place until I started working at Barnes & Noble and put all your books on the Internet site. -- Good luck to you -- Alex
Eric Carle: Thank you!
George from Mom's computer at work: Hello. Are there days that you just paint and paint and paint, with no one book that you are painting for? Just for fun?
Eric Carle: When I don't illustrate a book, then I paint my colorful tissue papers.
Dawn from Houston, TX: Hi, Eric! One more question. What or who inspired FROM HEAD TO TOE? I can see how this, as well as so many of your other books, can be used in middle school classrooms. You are truly an inspiration for us all!!
Eric Carle: Inspiration comes from many sources. Sometimes inspiration just sneaks up on you.
Dr. Harris's Class from Lubbock, TX: What was the most difficult book for you to write and/or illustrate, and why?
Eric Carle: Dallas and Longview. The beginning of DRAGONS DRAGONS was difficult. In fact I almost despaired. I called up my editor and told her I was unable to illustrate this book. Fortunately she was not in to take the call, because by the time she came back two days later I had changed my mind and enthusiastically began working on this book.
Amy from New York City: Have you ever been tempted to write adult books? What is it about the vision of children that makes writing books for them so pleasurable?
Eric Carle: I was born in the United States, where I began my first-grade education. Then my parents and I moved to Germany, where I started a second round of an education. I was unaware of it, but today I am aware that it was a difficult time period in my life. I believe that with my books I am dealing with that time all over again. I believe that the transition from preschool to first grade is a difficult time for children, and I went through this process twice within a very short time. Helping children make this transition is my motivation. And I am gratified that children have embraced my books.
Laura Dine from Washington: I am an artist myself, and I admire your work very much. Do you ever find it difficult to make representations of people? I can do animals and objects, but have such a hard time with people -- can you give me advice?
Eric Carle: Dear Laura, I have the same problem that you do! Animals are easier for me. However, in FROM HEAD TO TOE, I think I've been pretty successful with my people as well as the animals. In fact, it is a very successful combination.
Alexandra S. from Baltimore, MD: What pets do you have? What is your favorite animal that you have written about? Would you ever want to write about an American Eskimo dog?
Eric Carle: Right now, I don't have any pets, but most of my life there have been cats, and a dog. I did have a Samoyed dog, which is what I think you mean by Eskimo dog. So far, I haven't thought about writing about an Eskimo dog.
Frederika from New York: Where is the beautiful garden where you find the caterpillars, fireflies, and crickets that you write about? You must live near the ocean, too!-)
Eric Carle: The beautiful garden is in my head.
Barbara from Harwinton, CT: Do you have a web page where the ways teachers have used your books with their classes are listed?
Eric Carle: Yes! www.Eric-Carle.com. There is a bulletin board called "Caterpillar Exchange" where teachers, parents, and librarians can share ideas about how to use my books.
Dawn from Houston, TX: Eric, when will you be back in Houston again? Several of us in the Children's Lit class at the University of Houston-Clear Lake are anxious to see you.
Eric Carle: I don't have any plans right now. You seem to be a lively bunch! Thanks a bunch!
Moderator: Thanks so much for joining us tonight, Mr. Carle, and for responding so thoughtfully to so many questions! Best wishes and good night!
Eric Carle: I very much enjoyed being part of this chat. Good night!
