The universe of beloved illustrator and author Eric Carle

Having sold more than 50 million copies, Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a mainstay in children's libraries. And in their imaginations: as it nibbles away at bright fruits, lollipops and other sweets. Yet the tale was not supposed to glorify gluttony, but to "entertain one's inner child" and to be "a story of hope" for children, said Carle.

Carle, a US-American, was once an art director at a New York advertising agency. One of his ad illustrations of a red lobster proved to be so popular that that the editor of a large publishing house commissioned him to illustrate the children's book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Having enjoyed the process so much, Carle decided to become a children's book author and illustrator.

As a child, Carle often went on walks with his father, who took the opportunity to explain the world of insects to him. He later had the idea of creating a book on insects like caterpillars and beetles as metaphors for childhood. His message to children: "I too can spread my wings and fly into the world."

Using a technique inspired by Picasso, Carle paints on thin tissue paper, then cuts the colored surfaces into the desired shapes before drying and gluing the pieces of paper together to form a picture. "The Very Quiet Cricket" showcases this trademark technique.

Both as illustrator and author, Carle has published more than 70 books in his lifetime. "The Grouchy Ladybug," created in 1977, tells of a big-mouthed beetle who wants to pick a fight with everybody. This all changes when another ladybug generously shares a leaf.

Published in 2002, the book "'Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,' said the Sloth" tells the tale of a sloth who lives in a tree. When the other jungle animals accuse the sloth of being lazy and slow, the sloth responds, "It is true that I am slow, quiet, and boring. I am relaxed and tranquil, and I like to live in peace, but I am not lazy." The work is a significant commentary on hectic modern life.