Reading with the Girl: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I think if you have a child, know a child or were a child, then you know this book. Eric Carle is a children’s book rock star, and I had to feature one of his most famous books.

Author / Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: World Publishing Company (1969)
Prices: Hardcover – $21.99, Board Book - $10.99
Reading level: 0 to 4 years old
Interest level: Preschool and Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: 7 x 5 inches, 28 pages
ISBN: 0399226907
Genres: Board Book, Early readers, Children’s Fiction

Subjects:

Metamorphosis -- Juvenile fiction.

Butterflies -- Juvenile fiction.

Caterpillars -- Juvenile fiction.

Annotation: A caterpillar hatches out of an egg and is very very hungry, after eating and napping he gets a wonderful surprise.

Summary:
This book shows the youngest readers the life stages of a butterfly. First an egg hatches and a caterpillar comes out. The caterpillar then eats… a ton, weaves a cocoon, then he stays in the cocoon for two weeks. Then he emerges, not as a caterpillar but as a beautiful rainbow colored butterfly.

Evaluation:
I loved this book as a kid and I love it as a mom. First off, there is Mr. Carles iconic watercolor style. His loose illustrations have texture, life and whimsy. The cut out holes in the board book version are what every child first loves about this book. It begs to be read, the varying sizes of the pages are made for little fingers to turn them. The story is so simple, yet so advanced. Teaching the smallest children about metamorphosis, without ever having to use that BIG word. This book should be given out in maternity wards!

Similar Titles or Authors:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney