Books

Hand-painted and glazed collage on board. 229 x 191mm. Signed and inscribed "For Betsy Pinover with Best Wishes / Eric Carle" in pencil to the upper margin; additionally signed and dated by Carle in black ink on verso. In excellent condition, the colours bold and bright. A wonderful original artwork by the creator of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for the 1985 book "The Foolish Tortoise" by Richard Buckley. Tired of being so slow, the eponymous tortoise decides that the easiest way for him to move faster is to get out of his heavy shell. The only problem is, once he manages to leave, he finds himself too scared to walk anywhere, thus learning the hard way that there is no place like home. The present collage, although not used in the published book, appears to be an alternative design for the front cover illustration. A charming and characterful creation, executed in Carle's inimitable style. Provenance: from the collection of Betsy Pinover Schiff. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.

In 'The Foolish Tortoise', a slow-moving tortoise decides that he wants to be fast by shedding his heavy shell, but soon learns to appreciate his own protective shell as he encounters various dangers. This charming tale, with illustrations by Eric Carle, teaches children about self-acceptance and the importance of being true to oneself.