I know I read this when I was younger but can't remember when, probably in elementary school. I watched Michelle Obama read it on Youtube and her narration is fun to watch, especially her sound effects.

SPOILER! He turns into a butterfly.

Fun fact for today? A famous picture book, described as “one of the greatest childhood classics of all time” was actually inspired by … a simple hole punch!

Yes, incredibly, it’s true. The author remembers:

“One day I was punching holes with a hole puncher into a stack of paper, and I thought of a bookworm and so I created a story called ‘A Week with Willi the Worm.’”

But his editor suggested that readers may not like a green worm very much, and suggested a caterpillar instead. The idea appealed to Eric Carle, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the result.

“I said 'Butterfly!’ That’s how it began.” But did it begin there, or did it end? It’s rather like the chicken and the egg ...

The story starts on a moonlit night, with a tiny egg on a leaf. On the next morning, which is Sunday, a tiny red-faced caterpillar pops out of the egg. He’s very hungry, so he begins to look for some food. Over the next five days we see him eating through more and more fruit. There’s an apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, four strawberries on Thursday, and five oranges on Friday … and then, on Saturday, he gobbles down an enormous feast of all sorts of silly food:

“On Saturday, he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon.”

Of course by the end of the day, he feels very ill indeed, with a stomach ache. The next day though, another Sunday, he goes back to his more sensible diet, and eats through a large green leaf. He’s now a very big fat caterpillar! He spins a little house round himself called a cocoon and stays in there for a whole fortnight. And after that is the magic, which will entrance all young children, as of course the illustration shows the caterpillar emerging, transformed into a beautiful butterfly with large, glorious, multi-coloured wings.

This is a wonderful book for very young children. It introduces sound educational themes such as counting, the days of the week, foods, (although Saturday’s feast is a bit of a fantasy!) and the life cycle and transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It is simple but accurate, and has been endorsed by the “Royal Entomological Society”.

It has to be said though, that its charm and novelty is its greatest asset. The pages are differently shaped, and have holes punched through to represent the caterpillar’s trail as he eats through all the various foods. Although The Very Hungry Caterpillar was first published in 1969, apparently it has sold the equivalent of a copy per minute ever since (30 million copies worldwide). It has won many awards for children’s literature, and also a major graphic design award. Eric Carle not only wrote it, but also designed and illustrated the book.

Quite an achievement, then, for a book which was inspired by a simple hole punch!

The best kids' books were the ones that had holes cut out.

Plus, this caterpillar eats, like, n  A LOT.n

I this book we learn that caterpillars, like humans, enjoy eating junk food, but are probably better off just eating leaves, like humans...

I actually gave this book 5 stars, but the very hungry caterpillar ate one of them.

Also, did anyone else get a defective book? My version has a bunch of holes in it.

The Hungry Caterpillar was one of the first books I read as a child.

If you haven't read it, you've been missing out on A LOT. It's absolutely iconic and worth reading if you're 5 or 50 years old.

Five stars.

Eric Carle's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' is art in its truest form. It influences minds at a young age and is a classic, for a good reason. While simple at surface, it complies to its target audience with stunning visuals and vibrant colors. The style of the art frolics in tandem with its engaging narrative. The pages are three-dimensional and interactive, guaranteed to entertain and warm the hearts of the cynical (e.g me).
The character arc of the caterpillar represents the unrealistic body image set by society and the poor protagonist that only wants to fulfill the empty hole in his mentality. As he grows, his self worth diminishes--his true purpose has been shrouded by ideals and goals that bring not happiness, but sorrow. What makes him truly happy is food, but society refuses to accept him for what he loves. Can the public eye not leave a poor, hungry caterpillar alone?
Carle is a wordsmith and his work had advanced society in ways that are unappreciated, or even unnoticed. His rhymes are memorable to even the semi-literate toddlers of his target audience, toddlers that will remember his teachings until adulthood. It may not seem like it, but this caterpillar is responsible for the foundation of morals in several adults today that were blessed with Carle's words--we have learned from our noble protagonist for the better. Published in 1969 and still popular today, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' is a creation warming the hearts of many with the story of a young caterpillar overcoming his ravenous and reckless ways on his journey to become a beautiful, beautiful butterfly.

یکی از بهترین کتابهای دوران کودکیمه..عاشقشم

4 Very Hungry ★'s

n  “One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and - pop! - out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.”n

This is the all-time classic picture book you'll love passing down from generation to generation. I love being able to share all my childhood favorites with my little niece :) This book gives me so much nostalgia. I read this countless times when I was younger. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is such a wonderful book and it helps teach children the days of the week and a variety of different foods the Caterpillar eats. The illustrations are gorgeous with all the bright stand out colors. It's very capturing and pleasing to the eye.

n  “He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself. He stayed inside for more than two weeks. Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and... he was a beautiful butterfly!”n

kids: 3
times I've read this book: zillions
times I've loved reading this book: every single one

Devastating to think Eric Carle is no longer with us. His stories have brought joy to so many children, myself included. His words will be cherished for generations to come, his impact on the literary world as astounding as it is powerful.
RIP.