witty and funny, this book has been capturing little hearts for nearly 30 years
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THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
by Eric Carle - Penguin Books 2001
ages newborn to about 6 years / imagination, s.t.e.m.
My two-year-old daughter Ivy is obsessed with bugs! She thinks they’re hilarious and can spot a tiny ladybug from way across the room. So naturally, A Very Hungry Caterpillar is a current favourite.
A well-loved classic, it follows the cycle from egg to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly. Along the way, this determined little caterpillar eats through an impressive amount of food!
It's a great book for talking about life cycle, for early counting and for food identification. And because it's so popular, there's an abundance of Hungry Caterpillar themed activities to explore and keep the fun going:
This very cool macaroni necklace is from Buggy and Buddy.
Here's a fun and colourful project from Spearmint Baby with a link through to a fabulous Hungry Caterpillar themed birthday party - the cake is gorgeous.
This Chrysalis Kit from Butterfly Skye's bug shop looks fascinating.
And these from Chic by Chance are good chompers!
Ivy and I also like to go on an edible journey with the very hungry caterpillar - we look for other caterpillars, eggs, butterflies - and we eat some of the things the caterpillar ate (do you think a caterpillar could really eat through ALL those things?)
This site about the butterfly life cycle is interesting, it has a link to a printable colouring-in sheet.
You can watch Eric Carle reading aloud in the short video below, see what I mean about the caterpillar eating through ALL those things??
PS - If you're looking for something for a very little one or a new baby gift, you might like to click over to this post - the very hungry caterpillar is there, plus 11 other wonderful board books.
