The Very Hungry Caterpillar author Eric Carle dies, aged 91

Carle described the children’s classic, which sold more than 50 million copies around the world, as a ‘book of hope’.

Eric Carle, the acclaimed author and illustrator best known for the children’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has died aged 91, according to a statement from his publisher that was shared in his official Instagram account. The book, first published in 1969, features a caterpillar who eats his way through many different foods over the course of a week before finally emerging as a beautiful butterfly. With its distinctive artwork and subtle educational concepts, the book has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 60 languages.