Parents' Guide to

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

By Maria Strom, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 2+

Funny, colorful look at caterpillar's development.

Book Eric Carle Picture Book 1970
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 15 parent reviews

lyla R.
lyla R. Parent of 2, 5, 9, 12, 15 and 18+-year-old
October 8, 2023
age 18+

VERY BAD 90 PLUS

This book it not good for your little kids. it teaches them to eat everything and become fatties. i want my children to grow up heathy not like fat ungrateful little bum holes. they must not read this book because it has nudity because the caterpillar has no clothes on the whole time, who wants there kids to look at a naked caterpillar. And there a page of the caterpillar smoking! i want my kids to do that bc that's the vibe... but DO NOT GIVE THIS BOOK TO KIDS OR I WILL BOM YOUR HOUSE
Nalanie1987
Nalanie1987 Adult
September 21, 2021
age 2+

Educational value

I highly recommend this book to all the parents and early educators to read this book at less once to your child. I promise you will get your child attention for this book. I am a mother of three children and I work in a pre-school and from my personal experience the children love this book
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As the newborn caterpillar snacks through the pages (leaving behind a hole to stick a little finger through), he gets bigger and fatter, and then turns into a lovely butterfly with wings the color of Swiss cheese, oranges, and cherry pie! Eric Carle brings humor to the development of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, one of the first science miracles a child learns.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (17 ):

Eric Carle takes the concept of metamorphosis and presents it in a fun, colorful way that young children can understand. He draws his audience in with an adorable caterpillar that eats everything, including cupcakes and lollipops. What kid can't relate to the caterpillar's plight: indulging in favorite foods and getting a stomachache?

Carle's unique mixed-media collages burst from the pages with broad brushstrokes and bright colors. The vivid butterfly spans two pages: Purple, blue, red, green, and yellow make up his richly textured wings. The caterpillar's friendly expression adds to the book's overall warmth and charm. A counting lesson is also included, as the foods are presented in number sets (one apple, two pears ... up to five oranges). The holes in the foods that the caterpillar has munched on draw little fingers into them, adding another kid-appealing dimension to this well-thought-out book.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Very Hungry Caterpillar's humongous appetite and his big change. Why does the caterpillar need to eat so much? If you were that hungry, what kind of food would you want to eat lots of?

  • Did you know that caterpillars turn into butterflies? Have you ever seen a caterpillar or a butterfly in a garden or park?

  • Which picture in the book is your favorite? Which food in the story do you like to eat?

Book Details

  • Author: Eric Carle
  • Illustrator: Eric Carle
  • Genre: Picture Book
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Publication date: January 1, 1970
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 4
  • Number of pages: 30
  • Last updated: August 2, 2021

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