David A. Carter


David A. Carter is an American author and illustrator. He is best known for his pop-up books for both children and adults. His Bugs series has sold over 6 million copies.

Career

During the late 1970s, Carter worked as a graphic designer and advertising illustrator. Until 1987 he worked as an artist, a paper engineer and a book designer for a publishing house. After this he moved into his current career as an author, illustrator, and paper engineer, primarily of children's books. His first book was How Many Bugs in a Box?. Carter often works with his wife, Noelle Carter. Carter has created more than 90 books, including a guide on how to make pop-ups titled, The Elements of Pop Up. He designed a hardback book of graffiti design for the British band Coldplay's 2011 album Mylo Xyloto.
Carter and paper engineer James Diaz were awarded the 2023 Meggendorfer Prize for Best Paper Engineering at the 15th annual Movable Book Society Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

Personal life

Carter was born on 4 March 1957, at the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Utah State University. His hobbies include gardening, tennis, skiing and travelling.
He lives with his wife, Noelle L. Carter in Auburn, California. They have two daughters, Molly and Emma.

Works

Written and illustrated

  • What's in My Pocket?, Putnam, 1989.
  • Surprise Party, Grosset & Dunlap, 1990.
  • Snack Attack: A Tasty Pop-Up Book, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
  • Playful Pandas, National Geographic Society, 1991.
  • In a Dark, Dark Wood, Simon & Schuster, 1991, published as In a Dark, Dark Wood: An Old Tale with a New Twist, Simon & Schuster, 2002.
  • Opposites, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • Colors, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • Counting, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • I'm Shy, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • In and Out, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • Says Who?, Simon & Schuster, 1993.
  • The Elements of Pop-Up: A Pop-Up Book for Aspiring Paper Engineers, Simon & Schuster, 1999.
  • Flapdoodle Dinosaurs: A Colorful Pop-Up Book, Simon & Schuster, 2001.
  • Who Took the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?: Fun Flaps and Pop-Up Surprises, Scholastic, 2002.
  • Glitter Critters: David Carter's Pop-Up Book, Piggy Toes Press, 2003.
  • Let's Make It Pop-Up, Simon & Schuster, 2004.
  • One Red Dot, Simon & Schuster, 2005.
  • Woof! Woof!, Simon & Schuster, 2006.
  • Blue 2, Simon & Schuster, 2006.

    ''Bugs'' series

  • How Many Bugs in a Box?, Simon & Schuster, 1988.
  • More Bugs in Boxes, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
  • Jingle Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1992.
  • Alpha Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1994.
  • Love Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1995.
  • Feely Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1995, published in a reduced size edition, 2005.
  • Bugs That Go Bump in the Night, Simon & Schuster, 1996.
  • Bugs in Space, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Finger Bugs Love Bug, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Bugs at Play, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Bugs at Work, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Busy Bugs, Lazy Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Bugs on the Go, Simon & Schuster, 1997.
  • Stinky Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 1998.
  • Bed Bugs: A Pop-Up Bedtime Book, Simon & Schuster, 1998.
  • The Twelve Bugs of Christmas: A Pop-Up Christmas Counting Book, Simon & Schuster, 1999.
  • Giggle Bugs: A Lift-and-Laugh Book, Simon & Schuster, 1999.
  • Easter Bugs: A Springtime Pop-Up, Simon & Schuster, 2001.
  • Chanukah Bugs: A Pop-Up Celebration, Simon & Schuster, 2002.
  • Peekaboo Bugs: A Hide-and-Seek Book, Simon & Schuster, 2002.
  • Halloween Bugs: A Trick-or-Treat Pop-Up, Simon & Schuster, 2003.
  • Beach Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 2008.
  • The Big Bug Book, Simon & Schuster, 2008.
  • School Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 2009.
  • Builder Bugs, Simon & Schuster, 2012.
  • Bugs at the Beach, Simon & Schuster, 2016.

    Collaborations with Noelle Carter

  • I'm a Little Mouse, Holt, 1990.
  • Merry Christmas, Little Mouse: A Scratch-the-Scent and Lift-the-Flap Book, Holt, 1993.
  • Peek-a-Boo Little Mouse: A Pat & Play Lift-the-Flap Book, Holt, 1993.
  • The Nutcracker: A Pop-Up Adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman's Original Tale, Simon & Schuster, 2000.
  • Little Mouse's Christmas, Piggy Toes Press, 2003.