Order of Book Series
0

Eric Carle Books in Order

165 books are credited to Eric Carle, published between 1968 and 2026; 41 of them appeared after Eric Carle's death in 2021. The first book is 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (1968) and the newest is Thank You, Mom! from Baby Bear and Friends (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
165
Published
1968–2026
Pages on record
2,374 in 91 of 165 books
Reading time
40–59 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 2,374 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 91 of 165 titles with a page count on record.

See all 165 books in order Printable Eric Carle checklist
Photo of Eric Carle, author

Eric Carle (25 June 1929 to 23 May 2021) was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a picture book first published in 1969, has sold more than 55 million copies in over 70 languages. Carle illustrated more than 70 children's books and wrote most of them, and sales across the Carle books exceed 170 million copies. Catalogued titles begin with 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (1968), followed by The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969), Pancakes, Pancakes! (1970), The Tiny Seed (1970) and Do You Want to Be My Friend? (1971). Subjects include board books, counting, color, animals and caterpillars.

How many Eric Carle books are there?

Eric Carle has 165 books, released between 1968 and 2026. 41 of them were published after Eric Carle's death in 2021. They include 5 series and 3 titles listed outside any series.

Eric Carle Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 165 Eric Carle books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle, book 1 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1968)
  2. Cover of Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle, book 2 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1970)
  3. Cover of The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, book 3 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1970)
  4. Cover of Do You Want to Be My Friend? by Eric Carle, book 4 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1971)
  5. Cover of Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle, book 5 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1971)
  6. Cover of Walter the Baker by Eric Carle, book 6 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1972)
  7. Cover of The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle, book 7 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1972)
  8. Cover of Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle, book 9 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1973)
  9. Cover of I See a Song by Eric Carle, book 10 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1973)
  10. Cover of My Very First Book of Words by Eric Carle, book 1 of the My Very First Book series (1974)
  11. Cover of Why Noah Chose the Dove by Eric Carle, book 11 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1974)
  12. Cover of All about Arthur by Eric Carle, book 12 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1974)
  13. Cover of The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle, book 13 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1975)
  14. Cover of The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle, book 14 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1977)
  15. Cover of Watch Out!A Giant! by Eric Carle, book 15 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1978)
  16. Cover of Twelve Tales from Aesop by Eric Carle (1980)
  17. Cover of The Honeybee & the Robber by Eric Carle, book 16 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1981)
  18. Cover of Let's Paint a Rainbow by Eric Carle, book 17 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1982)
  19. Cover of Catch the Ball! by Eric Carle, book 18 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1982)
  20. Cover of What's for Lunch? by Eric Carle, book 19 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1982)
  21. Cover of The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, book 20 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1984)
  22. Cover of My Very First Book of Numbers by Eric Carle, book 2 of the My Very First Book series (1985)
  23. Cover of My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle, book 3 of the My Very First Book series (1985)
  24. Cover of The Greedy Python by Eric Carle, book 21 of the Eric Carle Illustrated series (1985)
  1. 1
    1, 2, 3 to the ZooEric Carle Illustrated #11968 · 10 pages · confirmed 1/4
    196810
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The Very Hungry CaterpillarWorld of Eric Carle #11969 · confirmed 1/4
    1969–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Pancakes, Pancakes!Eric Carle Illustrated #21970 · 36 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197036
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    The Tiny SeedEric Carle Illustrated #31970 · 40 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197040
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Do You Want to Be My Friend?Eric Carle Illustrated #41971 · 36 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197136
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Rooster's Off to See the WorldEric Carle Illustrated #51971 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197132
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Walter the BakerEric Carle Illustrated #61972 · 40 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197240
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    The Secret Birthday MessageEric Carle Illustrated #71972 · confirmed 1/4
    1972–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Very Long TrainEric Carle Illustrated #81972 · confirmed 1/4
    1972–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Have You Seen My Cat?Eric Carle Illustrated #91973 · 28 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197328
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    I See a SongEric Carle Illustrated #101973 · confirmed 1/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    My Very First Book of WordsMy Very First Book #11974 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197412
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Why Noah Chose the DoveEric Carle Illustrated #111974 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197432
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    All about ArthurEric Carle Illustrated #121974 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197432
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    The Mixed-Up ChameleonEric Carle Illustrated #131975 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197532
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Eric Carle's StorybookWorld of Eric Carle #21976 · 93 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197693
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Grouchy LadybugEric Carle Illustrated #141977 · confirmed 1/4
    1977–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Watch Out!A Giant!Eric Carle Illustrated #151978 · 32 pages · confirmed 1/4
    197832
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Twelve Tales from Aesop1980 · 29 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198029
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The Honeybee & the RobberEric Carle Illustrated #161981 · confirmed 1/4
    1981–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Let's Paint a RainbowEric Carle Illustrated #171982 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198212
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Catch the Ball!Eric Carle Illustrated #181982 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198212
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    What's for Lunch?Eric Carle Illustrated #191982 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198212
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    The Very Busy SpiderEric Carle Illustrated #201984 · 26 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198426
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    My Very First Book of NumbersMy Very First Book #21985 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198512
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    My Very First Book of ShapesMy Very First Book #31985 · 12 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198512
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    My Very First Book of ColorsMy Very First Book #41985 · confirmed 1/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    The Greedy PythonEric Carle Illustrated #211985 · confirmed 1/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    My Very First Book of FoodMy Very First Book #51986 · confirmed 1/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    My Very First Book of MotionMy Very First Book #61986 · confirmed 1/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Eric Carle books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

World of Eric Carle in order

83 books
  1. 1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  2. 2. Eric Carle's Storybook
  3. 3. A House for Hermit Crab
  4. 4. Eric Carle's ABC
  5. 5. Eric Carle's Opposites
  6. 6. The Very Busy Spider's Favorite Words
  7. 7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Favorite Words
  8. 8. The Very Quiet Cricket's Favorite Words
  9. 9. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle's Favorite Words
  10. 10. Colors. Colores
  11. 11. The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Buggy Book
  12. 12. Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  13. and 71 more in the table above

Eric Carle Illustrated in order

58 books
  1. 1. 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo
  2. 2. Pancakes, Pancakes!
  3. 3. The Tiny Seed
  4. 4. Do You Want to Be My Friend?
  5. 5. Rooster's Off to See the World
  6. 6. Walter the Baker
  7. 7. The Secret Birthday Message
  8. 8. Very Long Train
  9. 9. Have You Seen My Cat?
  10. 10. I See a Song
  11. 11. Why Noah Chose the Dove
  12. 12. All about Arthur
  13. and 46 more in the table above

My Very First Book in order

15 books
  1. 1. My Very First Book of Words
  2. 2. My Very First Book of Numbers
  3. 3. My Very First Book of Shapes
  4. 4. My Very First Book of Colors
  5. 5. My Very First Book of Food
  6. 6. My Very First Book of Motion
  7. 7. My Very First Book of Growth
  8. 8. My Very First Book of Touch
  9. 9. My Very First Book of Heads and Tails
  10. 10. My Very First Book of Animal Homes
  11. 11. My Very First Book of Animal Sounds
  12. 12. My First Busy Book
  13. and 3 more in the table above

What's Your Favorite in order

4 books
  1. 1. What's Your Favorite Animal?
  2. 2. What's Your Favorite Color?
  3. 3. What's Your Favorite Bug?
  4. 4. What's Your Favorite Food?

STEM Gear in order

1 book
  1. 1. Turn, Crank, Zoom!

Ready-to-Read: Pre-Level 1 in order

1 book
  1. 34. Can a Cat Do That?

Standalone books

3 books

3 Eric Carle titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Eric Carle books in order?

You only need to read Eric Carle books in order within each series: the books listed here span 5 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Eric Carle

Start with 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (1968), the earliest published title.

What is the newest Eric Carle book?

Thank You, Mom! from Baby Bear and Friends (2026) is the newest Eric Carle book released so far.

Is there a new Eric Carle book coming?

No next Eric Carle book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Awards Eric Carle has won

Wikidata records 2 awards for Eric Carle. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Children's Literature Legacy Award2003Won
  • Regina Medal1999Won

Eric Carle at a glance

Died
Eric Carle died in 2021, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to Eric Carle are still being published after Eric Carle's death in 2021; the newest appeared in 2026.
Release pace
Eric Carle books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
2,374 pages across the 91 of 165 books with a recorded length, a median of 20 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Eric Carle books, 62 of 165, were published in the 2020s.

What the Eric Carle books are about

108 of the 165 Eric Carle books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: children's fiction is tagged on 50 of 108. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.