The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
A tiny caterpillar’s enormous appetite leads to a mysterious transformation hidden inside his cosy cocoon.
Pageticker community rating
Average score: 4.73
From 234 readers
What do our readers think of The Very Hungry Caterpillar? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)
Children enjoy the bright pictures, the funny food-filled journey and poking their fingers through the holes in the pages. They also find the counting, days of the week and transformation into a butterfly fun to discover.
What does the Pageticker team say about The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
We love the way Eric Carle combines bold collage illustrations, simple repetition and clever cut-out pages to make learning feel playful. The story introduces counting, days of the week and the life cycle of a butterfly while celebrating curiosity and change. It is especially enjoyable for younger children sharing the book with an adult, although the delicate holes may need careful handling and the caterpillar’s feast can prompt a useful conversation about eating too much.
Genres
What is The Very Hungry Caterpillar about?
Follow the journey of a tiny, very hungry caterpillar as he munches his way through a dazzling array of foods all week long. With colourful illustrations and playful cut-out pages, children will delight in watching the caterpillar grow and change, learning about days of the week, counting, and the magic of transformation. Eric Carle’s classic story is a joyful celebration of curiosity and discovery, perfect for sharing together.
About the author
Eric Carle was a much-loved author and illustrator, best known for his colourful picture books. His most famous story is 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', which has delighted children all around the world. Eric Carle’s books are filled with bright artwork and simple stories that help young readers learn about nature and the world around them.
Discussion ideas around The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A very hungry caterpillar: Why do you think the caterpillar keeps looking for more food, and how do you think he feels after his enormous feast?
Days and numbers: How do the days of the week and the growing amounts of food help us follow the caterpillar’s journey?
Change and growing: What changes does the caterpillar go through, and what other changes might happen as animals grow?
Food choices: Which foods in the story would you choose for a special treat, and which foods might help you feel healthy and strong?
Pictures you can touch: How do the holes, changing page sizes and bright colours make the story feel different from an ordinary book?
Pages
24 pages
Reading age
Picture Book (2-7)
This edition
1994
First published
1969
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