Move Over, Eric Carle: Newer Picture Books with Beautiful Collage Illustrations

From The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats to Frederick by Leo Lionni to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom illustrated by Lois Ehlert, there are lots of beloved classic picture books that use collage to create beautiful illustrations. And with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the more than 70 other books he created using a distinct collage style, Eric Carle is in a category all his own! But there are also newer picture books that contain gorgeous collage illustrations. And today, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites, while also shining a light on the illustrators keeping this art form alive and innovative within the picture book medium. You Matter by Christian Robinson Christian Robinson’s use of paint-stroked paper and collage feels reminiscent of Eric Carle. But the bold illustration style he uses to create the worlds within his picture books is also entirely his own. In this book, he zooms in and out on our world, highlighting the diversity among humans and the importance of all living things. If you like the vibrant collages in this story, also take a look at Another, School’s First Day of School, and The Bench. My Cat Looks Like My Dad by Thao LamThe patterned paper collages in this pi...