One day, a little cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. But the little cricket cannot make a sound. The cricket meets many insects, but it isn't until he meets a beautiful female cricket that he can finally chirp "hello!" Excerpt: Hello! whispered a praying mantis, scraping its huge front legs together. The little cricket wanted to answer, so he rubbed his wings together. But nothing happened. Not a sound.

A very quiet cricket who wants to rub his wings together and make a sound as do so many other animals finally achieves his wish.

From bestselling author and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes another classic tale about one very quiet cricket. A perfect gift to share with the child or grandchild in your life. One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello--the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, the whisper of a praying mantis. The cricket rubs his wings together each time, but nothing happens, not a sound. Until the day he meets another cricket, a female, and something different happens . . . As children turn the page on this wonderful moment, they are greeted with a surprise--an actual chirp! Full of Eric Carle's gorgeous and lush collage art, a gentle rhythmic text for read-alouds, and a wonder-inducing surprise at the end, The Very Quiet Cricket remains an all-time favorite from one of the true masters of picture-book making. Batteries are replaceable. Please use two 1.5 volt L1131 button cell batteries. Praise for The Very Quiet Cricket: "Typical of Carle's style, the language is simple, with rhythm, repetition, and alliteration to delight young listeners. Painted collage illustrations are lavish and expressive."--School Library Journal "The text is skillfully shaped; the illustrations convey energy and immediacy."--Horn Book "As usual, Carle's art is lovely and his story is simple and satisfying."--Publishers Weekly "Carle's signature style ensures that this is a visual standout, and storywise it's appealing, too....The spare text is structured by repetitive phrasing that will lend itself to read-aloud responses."--Booklist

Eric Carle joins the Penguin Young Readers! In this classic and heartwarming story, a very lonely firefly finally finds the friends he is seeking at the end of a tireless search for belonging. Carle's rich, collage-like art and gentle text will be comfortingly familiar to his millions of fans. An accessible Level 2 reader, The Very Lonely Firefly is one that parents and children will read over and over again.

The Very Quiet Cricket is now available as a coloring book! Perfect for both reading and coloring, this interactive version of Eric Carle’s classic story follows a lonely cricket who’s looking for love. As all the different insects go by, he tries and tries to make a chirp, but it isn’t until he sees another cricket that he can truly sing. Special artwork made just for coloring and blank pages at the end for your own drawings give this classic story new life. A sure-fire hit for creative children everywhere.

From bestselling author and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes another classic tale about one very clumsy click beetle. A perfect gift to share with the child or grandchild in your life. When a little click beetle falls onto his back, he seeks the help of a wise old click beetle. "Look at me," says the more experienced click beetle, giving a loud CLICK and flipping onto its feet. But try as he might, the clumsy little click beetle just can't get the hang of it--or can he? In the tradition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Carle creates a winning story of perseverance and pride in achievement complete with an ingenious fiber-optic microchip that truly gives voice to the valiant little beetle as it CLICKs its way through the colorful pages and somersaults into your heart. Praise for The Very Clumsy Click Beetle: "Sure to be loved and requested again and again, Click Beetle is a well-crafted story, joyfully illustrated, that speaks to the hearts of young children."--Library Journal "At once stark and sophisticated, Carle's trademark collage art fills the pages of his latest Very volume."--Publishers Weekly "Carle's trademark artwork, featuring large, colorful collages set against expansive white space, is--as always--a strong attribute."--Booklist

A child describes the feelings and emotions which are the mark of his individual self.