The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the week and turns into a butterfly.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a picture book by Eric Carle, first published in 1969. It is number 2 in our list of the best children’s books of all time. A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the week and turns into a butterfly.
What is The Very Hungry Caterpillar about?
A very hungry caterpillar hatches on a Sunday and eats a little more food every day, until he has eaten far too much and feels unwell. After a good rest in a cocoon, he comes out as a beautiful butterfly.
Eric Carle made the pictures from painted tissue paper collage. The book has holes through the pages for little fingers to poke through.
Book details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Eric Carle |
| Illustrator | Eric Carle |
| First published | 1969 |
| Type | Picture book |
| Age guide | 0 to 4 |
Why children enjoy The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Counting, the days of the week and the idea of change, all in one short story.
- Bold colours and cut-through pages that invite touch.
- A story with a satisfying ending that children ask for again and again.
Reading and talking tips
- Count the fruit together on each page.
- Say the days of the week and ask what comes next.
- After reading, look for caterpillars and butterflies outside, or make your own tissue-paper collage.
About Eric Carle
Eric Carle was born on 25 June 1929 in Syracuse, New York, and died on 23 May 2021. He made his bright pictures from hand-painted tissue paper that he cut and layered into collages.
Read more on our Eric Carle author page.
If your child likes this, try…
See all 20 in our best children’s books of all time.
Frequently asked questions
What age is The Very Hungry Caterpillar for?
It suits babies and toddlers up to about age 4. Children often return to it when they start learning to count.
Who made the illustrations?
Eric Carle both wrote and illustrated the book, using painted tissue-paper collage.
Where can I borrow The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
Most public libraries stock it. See our guide to children’s books and your local library.