The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book] Board book – 3 May 2001

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, authored by Eric Carle, is a delightful board book that has been charming children and parents alike since its publication in 1969. This particular edition, published on May 3, 2001, continues to uphold the enchanting legacy of the story with its sturdy board book format, making it durable for the little hands of its readers.The narrative follows the journey of a caterpillar as it transforms into a beautiful butterfly. The simplicity of the text, combined with the vibrant and colorful illustrations, captures the imagination of young readers, encouraging them to explore the wonders of nature and the concept of growth and change.One of the most striking features of this book is its interactive design. The pages have holes "eaten" through them, allowing children to follow the caterpillar's path as it eats its way through various foods, adding a tactile element to the reading experience. This not only makes the story engaging but also aids in developing fine motor skills as children learn to turn the pages carefully.Eric Carle's illustrations are nothing short of iconic. The hand-painted collages are bright and inviting, with a unique visual texture that stands out in the world of children's literature. The art style is instantly recognizable and has inspired countless other children's books over the years.Educationally, The Very Hungry Caterpillar offers multiple learning opportunities. It introduces days of the week, counting, the process of metamorphosis, and even healthy eating habits, as the caterpillar indulges in a variety of foods before settling on a green leaf.This board book edition is especially suited for toddlers and preschoolers, with its compact size and hard-wearing pages. It's a book that can withstand being read over and over again, which is a testament to its timeless appeal.In conclusion, The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book] earns a well-deserved five stars for its enduring charm, educational value, and its ability to captivate the hearts of its readers. It's a must-have in any child's library and a book that can be passed down through generations, always ready to tell the story of the little caterpillar with a big appetite for life.A classic that truly deserves its spot as a beloved treasure in children's literature.

Every new parent should have this in their little book collection. It’s fun, teaches, and children love it.

Beautiful book! Had it for my children and have just bought it for my granddaughter who loves it even at just 5 months old. A lovely story and good for counting too.

Great item

Best book

Great classic story that I loved as a kid and now my kids will too!

The Hungry Caterpillar – Eric CarleThis children’s classic is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, a testament to its success and enduring ability to bring enjoyment. Carle brings words, colour, images, science, maths, health and time into this simple story about the miracle of nature whereby a caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly; children can learn a lot from this book.Firstly, the story starts with perspective, “in the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf”. In the vastness of the surroundings, Carle focuses on something tiny – a single caterpillar egg. Amazing things are found in the small details of our universe. On the next page, this egg hatches into the caterpillar with a “pop!” – Carle uses onomatopoeia to appeal to the child’s senses and give a sense of it happening suddenly.Carle said in one of his newsletters that “The book is like a bridge, over which a story travels from the writer to the readers.” And in order to make the story travel, the typography of the book is important, as well as the words and pictures. When the caterpillar eats fruit, the pages are different sizes, depending on how much he has eaten and what day it is. This helps with a child’s counting and learning the days of the week. There are also small holes through the pictures of everything he eats, as if the caterpillar has eaten his way through the book too! In fact Carle’s idea for the book came from the thought of a bookworm has he punched holes in paper. These small, simple holes make the very hungry caterpillar come alive.The book also teaches children about healthy eating, with humour. Unusually for a caterpillar, after eating lots of fruit, he consumes ice cream, cake, cheese, pie and more, which makes him feel ill. It has something in there for adults too; after all the feasting, the caterpillar eats a “green leaf, and after that he felt much better” – he needs a detox! Some adult readings see deeper into the hungry caterpillar – that it is a warning against capitalist greed; or that it represents a spiritual transformation. Perhaps this is seeing too much in story for children, but the tale is definitely one of hope and each reader can take something different from it.The pictures are crafted by Carle himself – beautiful colourful collages that make the pages bright. The butterfly is particularly spectacular and the patterns of the wings continue after the last page of words. The images help bring the metamorphosis to life in a way that children can understand; on one page the caterpillar is small, then he is large, then he is inside a cocoon, and finally, he is a butterfly. The change is complete but the cycle will begin again. Having watched butterflies hatch, I don’t think this will ever stop being fascinating and this book definitely captures that fascination.To explain why he chose a cocoon instead of a chrysalis, Carle said it mainly came from the words his father used to say to him when he was a boy: “‘Eric, come out of your cocoon.’ He meant I should open up and be receptive to the world around me. For me, it would not sound right to say, ‘Come out of your chrysalis.’ And so poetry won over science!” Here he blends poetry and science to create a children’s tale that is at once informative, striking and funny.see my other book reviews here: https://estherbookblog.wordpress.com/

We’re big readers and our son loves the very hungry caterpillar