The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This is one of the first picture books I remember reading with my mother as a child. It still sparks a nostalgic feeling in me! It's easy to see why it is a memorable title and still beloved by so many after all these years. The artwork is the dominant memory: the vibrant fruits, the earthy brown dirt, the multi-hued green caterpillar with the red head. The other thing I remember enjoying about the book was the interactivity - pushing my little fingers through the holes made by the caterpillar. And finally, the theme - transformation; seeing how something can change utterly was a revelation at that age. It's still an amazing book; unlike so many other "classic" picture books, this one I have no trouble understanding why it is still show more treasured and read by children around the world. show less

It has been almost 22 years since my oldest son, Scooter, learned to read using this book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It's almost as if I can still see that left hand on the page, guiding his pointer finger back and forth, as he reads one of the best children's books written by Eric Carle. "But he was STILL huuunnnggggrrryyyy!"- this is the way Scoot used to read those lines, like he was in disbelief that that little caterpillar was still craving food. It's been 22 years since he learned to read this book. It's been 3 years since he's been incarcerated. As a parent, you will find out that your children sometimes will be hungry for the very things that are not any good for them. It's a hurtful thing to witness their potential to become show more a beautiful butterfly be replaced by their decision to remain just a caterpillar. But whatever they so choose, know that you will morph right along with them. How fitting was this book! show less

Well this book brings tears to my eyes. I read this to my children nearly every day when they were little. They would point to the food and put their little fingers in the holes. I would have my hand on the other side of the page and tickle the pads of their finger. They would giggle and giggle. Thank you for this wonderful story, Eric, and rest in peace.

Summary: A small and "very hungry" caterpillar eats his way through a variety of foods, experiencing a transformation. This colorful book introduces counting, days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly. As the caterpillar eats more and more, it becomes bigger and bigger and then eventually it makes a cocoon and turns into a butterfly. The illustrations of this story create a artsy/creative overall vibe of the book. A variety of concepts are within this book, and even though it is simple, it is extremely informative to young viewers/readers.
Comments: I believe that this book is an amazing story for young students to experience. I feel like this story creatively captures an inside look on the life of a caterpillar. The author was show more able to sneak in various educational topics for young children, such as; colors, foods, counting, routine, insects etc. I think that the simplicity of this book adds to the overall vibe as well, this book is somewhat predictable, yet enjoyable and peaceful. I have never met a child that doesn't absolutely love this cute story. show less

This book is ageless; meaning that it is enjoyed by kids from two to one hundred and two years old. Actually, this caterpillar turns forty years old this year. He holds his age well, doesn’t he? The story starts as an egg on a leaf that is illuminated by the moon. From this perfectly round egg, a very hungry caterpillar transpires. Each day of the week he eats a hole through a different article of food until he turns into a chubby little caterpillar. Once he has binged on all of that food, he spins himself into a cocoon where he rests for two weeks. The story ends with a plump, round, little insect emerging into the world as a magnificent, multitude of colors that has metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly!
On the surface, Eric show more Carle is teaching us the days of the week or is he teaching us the life cycle of a butterfly? Actually, he is teaching us both lessons and so much more! As a “modern Fantasy” there is a moral to his story. He calls this particular story, his “book of Hope”. The butterfly is a child that has many lessons in life to learn so that one day he will emerge into life victorious as he takes his talents into the world to influence those around him. He wants each child to know that there are numerous opportunities for them on this planet!
As an educator, I found many ways to extend the learning opportunities that Mr. Carle affords us in this unique story. For the very young, (age 2 to 5 year olds) you can mimic the butterflies as it morphs from a caterpillar by crawling along the floor, eating, spinning into cocoons and then popping out with fluttery wings in the spring. My students never tired of this exercise as we performed it over and over, per their requests. With older students (8 years old and up), you can actually order the insect s and watch the phenomena as they journal the miracle of life that is happening in front of their own eyes! Of course, the internet gives us a plethora of handouts on the life cycle that can be labeled and colored for endless hours of enjoyment and the wonder of learning that takes place by students of all ages. Like the many amazing colors that Mr. Carle has illustrated for us in this great story; there are as many opportunities that knowledge seekers of all ages can acquire once they have read this wonderful adventure! This book has sold over 12 million copies in 46 different languages. Could it be more popular than McDonald’s? This story is amazing; happy 40th birthday, Mr. Caterpillar. show less

I had mixed feelings about this book after reading it. I liked the book because the illustrations were very colorful and brought much attention to the story. For example, even the caterpillar itself had many different shades of green, which definitely made the book more entertaining to read. However, I didn’t like the plot very much. Although it was a cute book about a caterpillar eating all sorts of food, there was not much of a suspense or tension to the storyline. Perhaps, the caterpillar turning into a butterfly would be much more exciting for children but I think there could be a different story about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly and make it more interesting.

I loved this book for 2 main reasons. The first reason is because of its language. The language had a consistent pattern which made it perfect for shared reading. For example, I recently read this book to students and I had them all say the phrase “But he was still hungry” since it was a predictable pattern phrase. This phrasing got the students very engaged in the lesson and in the book. I highly recommend this book for its language elements as it can engage students and adults alike. The other reason why I liked this book was because of its illustrations. The illustrations were very colorful which contrasted nicely to the blank white backgrounds and enhanced the story well. For example, the visual drawings of the fruits that the show more caterpillar ate illustrated and portrayed the text in a very unique style. I liked how the illustrations showed exactly the quantity and quality of the fruit that the very hungry caterpillar ate. Thus, the illustrations were a great addition to the book and if I can argue helped make this book as big of a success as it is. The main message of this book is to show readers that they are able to undergo growth and a transformation even after their path may be bumpy and not smooth (when the caterpillar had a bad tummy ache but then ate a leaf and went into a cocoon and became a butterfly). show less