A quiet little cricket who dreams of rubbing his wings together to make a sound just like so many other animals finally achieves his goal, in a board book edition of the classic picture book that comes complete with a chirping cricket sound.
-Ingram
He began as a designer of promotions and ads, and one illustration of a red lobster helped jump-start his career. The lobster caught the eye of author Bill Martin, Jr.; Martin asked Carle to illustrate the now-classic 1967 title Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and a career was born.
Born in Syracuse, New York but brought by his immigrant parents back to Germany when he was six, Carle was educated in Stuttgart and designed posters for the United States Information Center there after graduating from art school. He finally returned to the country he missed so much as a child in 1952.
He eventually began procuring work on children's titles, and found himself becoming increasingly involved in them. "I felt something of my own past stirring in me," he wrote in a 2000 essay. "An unresolved part of my own education needed reworking, and I began to make books -- books for myself, books for the child in me, books I had yearned for. I became my own teacher -- but this time an understanding one."
He began his career with the 1968 title 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo; but his next title, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is what still endears him to young readers today. Employing his bright, collage style and lending an immediacy to the tale by manifesting the caterpillar's hunger in actual holes in the pages, Carle began what would be a long career of creative approaches to simple stories. From the chirp emerging from The Very Quiet Cricket to the delightful fold-out pages in Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me, Carle's books provide surprises that make his stories come alive in ways that many titles for preschoolers do not.
Carle's style, with its diaphanous, busy and bold artwork, is perfect for engaging new readers. His stories are also popular with parents and educators for their introductions to the natural world and its cycles. It's a particular pleasure to follow Carle into different corners of the world and see what can be learned from the creatures who live in them.
Carle was unhappy to be in Germany when his immigrant parents brought him back there as a child. He hated his new school and wanted to go back to America. He said: "When it became apparent that we would not return, I decided that I would become a bridge builder. I would build a bridge from Germany to America and take my beloved German grandmother by the hand across the wide ocean."
Before he became a freelance illustrator and began working on children's books, Carle worked as a graphic designer for the New York Times and as art director of an ad agency.
Anonymous
Posted October 5, 2012
It didn't work. There was no cricket sound at the end of the story. I had to spend money to return it. Was very disappointed. I am sure that is rare.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.grandmaGA
Posted November 2, 2011
This story is written so well that my granchildren love to hear it read over and over. The "suspense" builds with each page and they love it! Will the very quiet cricket ever be able to make a noise? As a grandmother, I never tire of reading it. It also teches the names of some other insects. Buy it! You'll love it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 12, 2011
Aside from this being a cute story, my 12 month old son loves this book because of the chirping the cricket does at the end of the story. He will find the book and open to the last page to hear the chirping and then he proudly shows us what he has found.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.swillard
Posted April 13, 2011
It's a little long and repetitive but my son loves it! He just turned two and he likes to say "But nothing happened, not a sound." Then we chirp at the end. I use the book I had when I was a kid and it's still going strong with the chirping. Must be a good battery. This book is a wonderful addition to your collection.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.WP_Mom
Posted May 5, 2010
My kids (4 & 2 years old) both love this one. I think it has to do with how the little cricket has to try and try to succeed, just like them, and also the nice cricket noises at the end. Plus boys love bugs (they're both boys.) Usual Eric Carle quality illustrations. Good for bedtime since the cricket noise (unlike the Thomas books that make noise) does not make them get over-excited!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Rhaylin
Posted April 10, 2010
This book is wonderful! I remember reading it when I was a child and now I can read it to my son. The only bummer was that I ordered online and when the book arrived the battery was dead so I had to go out and buy more batteries.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I bought this for my niece and found it very zen and calming. The writer and illustrator created this beautiful quiet book really appreciating these colorful creatures. I recommended it highly to my brother who purchased it when i visited a week later I found the best part of the book didn't work. The book is about a little cricket that meets several insects one by one and tries to communicate with them so he rubs his wings together but nothing happens until the last page when he meets another cricket, you turn the page and you hear the beautiful summer night sound of crickets chirping, but not in this copy.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.loves-to-read-to-kids
Posted May 2, 2009
This is not my favorite book by Eric Carle, but it is still a great book. I love reading this to my almost 3 yar old son, and 10 month old daughter. My son can go through the book and name off all the insects the cricket meets. Both kids especailly love the cricket "chirping" at the end.
It's a very cute book to add to any collection.
Booklady27
Posted December 10, 2008
I love most of Eric Carle's books, but this is one of my favorites. It is a colorful book, a good story, and the best part is that the cricket is actually able to make his chirping sound at the end (there is a mechanism in the back of the book that makes the sound when you turn to the last page).
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 18, 2005
My son is 19 months old, and this has been his favorite book for almost a year! We have the 'multi sensory' one, where you can actually HEAR the cricket on the last page..it's wonderful! He asks for it over & over, night after night, and it's repetitive enough, that after a few dozen readings, Mommy knows it by heart! ha!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 7, 2001
This book has a repeating pattern that children can easily read along to. Also, the sound of the cricket singing at the end is a great surprise for little ones.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 7, 2000
My son is behind in speech due to a genetic disorder. He gets frustrated trying to communicate. He adores this book as do I. This is perfect for schools, daycares, speech therapists, etc. that deal with children that are 'very quiet.'
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 11, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 25, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted October 16, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 11, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 16, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
A quiet little cricket who dreams of rubbing his wings together to make a sound just like so many other animals finally achieves his goal, in a board book edition of the classic picture book that comes complete with a chirping cricket sound.
-Ingram