Eric Carle, author and artist behind ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’ dies at 91

© Vince Compagnone/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images Illustrator Eric Carle, one of the giants in the field of children s books( The Very Hungry Caterpillar ), during a booksigning at San Marino Toy and Booke Shoppe for his new collaboration with author Bill Martin, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Carle signs a book for a young fan. His Eric Carle Museum of Children s Picture Book Art in Amherst, which opened in November, hosts exhibitions of other respected artists in the field. (Photo by Vince Compagnone/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Eric Carle, the author and artist of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and dozens of other popular children’s book, has died at 91.

On Wednesday, Carle’s Twitter account acknowledged the death, indicating he died Sunday.

“From the Eric Carle Team: It is with heavy hearts that we share that Eric Carle, author & illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many other beloved classics, passed away on [May] 23rd at the age of 91,” the tweet reads.

Carle’s family also acknowledged the artist’s death on the author’s website, saying, “In the light of the moon, holding on to a good star, a painter of rainbows is now traveling across the night sky.”

In 2002, Eric and his late wife, Bobbie, opened The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Since “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” was published in 1969, it has been translated into 66 languages and has sold more than 50 million copies, according to Carle’s website. Throughout his life, Carle received honorary degrees from more than five universities, including Amherst College and Smith College, his website indicated.

© Richard Drew/AP Eric Carle, artist and author of the children’s book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”