The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover
Pre K - 3
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar

By Dolly Parton

Illustrator: Eric Carle

This mini hardcover edition of Eric Carle’s classic story begins one sunny Sunday, when the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums–and still he was hungry. Strikingly bold, colorful pictures and a simple text in large, clear type tell the story of a hungry little caterpillar’s progress through an amazing variety and quantity of foods. Full at last, he made a cocoon around himself and went to sleep, to wake up a few weeks later wonderfully transformed into a butterfly!

Brilliantly innovative designer and artist Eric Carle has dramatized the story of one of Nature’s commonest yet loveliest marvels, the metamorphosis of the butterfly, in a picture book to delight as well as instruct the very youngest reader or listener. Cleverly die-cut pages show what the caterpillar ate on successive days, graphically introducing sets of up to 10 objects and also the names of the days of the week in rotation, as well as telling the central story of the transformation of the caterpillar. The final, double-page picture of the butterfly is a joyous explosion of color, a vibrant affirmation of the wonder and beauty of Nature.

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Educator Resources

  • Educator Guide for The Very Hungry Carterpillar

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  • VHC DAY 2023 ACTIVITIES!

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  • Very Hungry Caterpillar Day Downloadables

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  • VHC Downloadable Counting Activity

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  • VHC Downloadable Butterfly Activity

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  • VHC Downloadable Coloring Sheet

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  • VHC Downloadable VHC Birthday Sheet

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  • Activities in Spanish

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