"The Very Hungry Caterpillar” author Carle (4)
I believe the answer is:
eric
'the very hungry caterpillar author carle' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for eric that I've seen before include "---- Cantona, Manchester Utd favourite of the 1990s" , "---- Roberts, actor brother of Julia" , "..... the Red was Norwegian 10th Century exployer" , "One of pair once popular" , "-- Idle; -- Morecambe" .)