The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a 1969 children's picture book designed, illustrated, and written by American children's author and illustrator Eric Carle. The plot follows a very hungry caterpillar that eats a variety of foods before pupating and emerging as a butterfly, and incorporates elements that contribute to juvenile education, such as counting, the days of the week, food, and a butterfly’s life cycle.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Front cover illustration
AuthorEric Carle
IllustratorEric Carle
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's literature (Children's picture book)
PublisherWorld Publishing Company (US)
Hamish Hamilton (UK)
Publication date
June 3, 1969
Media typeHardcover, Board book
Pages22
ISBN0-399-22690-7 (US)
OCLC21134403

Since its publication it has sold more than 50 million copies, been translated into more than 60 languages, won various awards, and been adapted for television.[1] It has been lauded as "one of the greatest childhood classics of all time,"[2] and has won praise for its iconic art style, featuring collage artwork and holes in the pages where the caterpillar "ate" through, that was innovative for its time.[1]

Synopsis

On an early Sunday morning, "a tiny and very hungry caterpillar" hatches from his egg and searches for something to eat. For the following five days, Monday through Friday, the very hungry caterpillar eats through an increasing quantity of fruit: one apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, four strawberries on Thursday, and five oranges on Friday. Each day, however, the caterpillar is still hungry. On Saturday, he feasts, eating a piece of chocolate cake, an ice cream cone, a pickle, a slice of Swiss cheese, a slice of salami, a lollipop, a piece of cherry pie, a sausage, a cupcake and a slice of watermelon. That night, he gets a stomachache from overeating.

The following Sunday, the very hungry caterpillar eats a green leaf, recovering from his stomachache. However, he is no longer little and hungry; he is now a "big and fat" caterpillar. He builds a cocoon around himself and stays inside of it for two weeks, after which he nibbles a hole and pushes his way out, emerging as a large, multi-colored butterfly.

Development

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is Carle's third book.

The plot originated as a story called A Week with Willi the Worm, featuring a bookworm named Willi, which Carle was inspired to write after using a hole punch made him think of the insect.[3] Ann Beneduce, Carle's editor, advised him that a green worm would not make a likable protagonist, instead recommending a caterpillar.[4][5]

Carle was allegedly inspired to have holes in the pages where the caterpillar had "eaten" through the various foods by books he had read as a child in Germany that were differently shaped.[4] The book was printed in Japan since no printer in the United States could be found to do so economically, given the number of die cuts required for the holes.[4]

Publication

The book was originally published by the World Publishing Company (US) in 1969. It was originally printed in Japan due to high US publishing costs resulting from the holes in some pages.[4] The book is currently published by Penguin Random House,[6] who also bought the title from Carle in 2019.[7]

Since its publication, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold over 50 million copies, or roughly one copy every thirty seconds.[1]

The book has been translated into more than 60 languages,[1] including Arabic,[8] Dutch, French,[9] Spanish,[10] German,[11] Japanese,[12] Italian,[13] Portuguese, Swedish,[14] Russian,[15] and Hebrew.[16]

Reception

Awards

The book has won numerous awards including the American Institute of Graphic Arts Award in 1970, the Best Children's Books of England in 1970, the Selection du Grand Prix des Treize in France in 1972, and the Nakamori Reader's Prize in Japan in 1975.[17] The New York Times also cited it as one of the "Ten Best Picture Books of the Year" in 1969.[18]

Furthermore, the book placed at number 199 in the Big Read, a 2003 poll conducted by the BBC to determine the United Kingdom's best loved books. It was one of the few picture books to place on the list.[19] Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children".[20] Five years later, School Library Journal survey of readers named The Very Hungry Caterpillar as the second-best children's book.[4]

In 2020, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was number ten on the list of "Top Check Outs of All Time" by the New York Public Library.[21] It also won the best children's classic accolade at the Sainsbury Children’s Book Awards in 2019.[22] Carle said that this award was a "perfect way" to celebrate the book's 50th anniversary.[22]

Endorsements

The Very Hungry Caterpillar introduces Lepidoptera life stage concepts depicting metamorphosis from a ‘hungry caterpillar’ to a ‘beautiful butterfly'; the Royal Entomological Society endorsed the book due to the scientific accuracy of this transformation.

Criticism

In 2021, researchers from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia criticized a number of books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, for not being culturally diverse, and finding that teachers were over-relying on classic titles which reflected dominant culture and outdated viewpoints and lifestyles.[23][24] In an article for the Australian Journal of Teacher Education, the researchers expressed concern about classic books which only contained animal characters, finding that animal stories decrease the likelihood of children from minority backgrounds seeing characters representative of themselves.[23][25] They recommended classic titles be placed alongside more contemporary texts which better represent a more modern culturally-diverse society.[23][26] The findings were criticized by media commentators such as Kel Richards and Erin Molan.[27][28]

Educational usage and influence

This book includes educational themes such as counting, the days of the week, foods, and a butterfly's life stages. However, the book does not appear as didactic; rather, it presents information discreetly without children realizing it.[1] It has been used by elementary school teachers, librarians, and parents as a teaching aid, with activities developed which use the book.[29][30] Furthermore, the pictures allow for understanding without reading.[31]

Predictability

The book contains "familiar sequences" or patterns when referencing days of the week and numbers.[32] These patterns help young readers read naturally and reflect their own personal knowledge about the world.[32] Furthermore, these patterns encourage word recognition strategies while reading, rather than beforehand.[32] Therefore, predictability helps establish understanding within context.[32]

The book's predictability also allows for Oral Cloze exercises, exercises where an adult reader can omit a day of the week or number and the child can insert it.[33] These exercises help children gain confidence in predicting language and enforcing pre-existing knowledge.[33]

Common Core

New elementary Common Core standards emphasize more informational texts in primary education; books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar mend the divide between informational texts and elementary engagement.[34] The book is captivating for young learners, while also providing lessons on counting, days of the week, and metamorphosis.[34]

Storytelling/classroom activities

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's format allows for expansion into a classroom activity.[31] Children can engage in creative practice and storytelling by inserting their own foods and drawings into each day of the week.[31] Using the book's format, children can incorporate their own interests; thus, they are telling their own stories.[31] Sharing their renditions with peers, students again engage with storytelling.[31]

Secondary school usage

The Very Hungry Caterpillar has met Beowulf in secondary classrooms in an effort to prompt academic and sophisticated discussion of picture books.[35] Main reasons for integration include the universal themes of picture books and providing visual aids for comprehension.[35] The Very Hungry Caterpillar has themes that extend past young children and its integration with Beowulf helps engage secondary aged students.[35]

Healthy eating

This book has been instrumental in fighting childhood obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, philanthropic groups, and anti-obesity campaigns utilize this book to teach children about healthy eating.[36] In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics sent out special copies of the book, with associated learning tools, to health providers, for a campaign to healthy eating in the U.S.[37] Carle supports the usage of his book to promote healthy eating.

Cultural influence

This book was used by former first lady Barbara Bush as part of her campaign to promote literacy.[38] In 1999, the pizza restaurant Pizza Hut asked 50 U.S. governors to name their favorite books from childhood. The then-governor of Texas, George W. Bush, named The Very Hungry Caterpillar, despite having been of college age at the time of its publication.[2]

In 2009, Google celebrated the book's 40th anniversary by rendering the logo on its main search page in the style used in the book.[3][39]

UK/US releases

VHS

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was adapted for UK television on September 1, 1993. Then on October 17, 1994, it was released as a VHS video distributed by PolyGram Video.[40] After which, it was re-released on June 16, 1997, distributed by Channel 5 Video, a sub-label of PolyGram. On March 18, 2002, it was re-released by Universal Pictures as part of an anthology called The World of Eric Carle that included The Very Hungry Caterpillar along with four other Eric Carle stories. [41]

This anthology utilized a classical music–influenced soundtrack by Wallace & Gromit composer Julian Nott.[42] Narration on the UK releases were performed by Roger McGough and Juliet Stevenson; this version was briefly released in the US by Scholastic.[43] Then on August 5, 1995 Disney released a US dub version with narration by Brian Cummings and Linda Gary.[44] After Disney's adaptation, the film and TV rights were sold for £1 million.[45]

DVD

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was released on DVD on April 24, 2006, as a part of an anthology called The World of Eric Carle; it was presented by the Illuminated Film Company and broadcast by Ventura Distribution.[40]

The anthology, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and four other stories, was also released on DVD in the US by Disney and in the AU by ABC DVD.[46] The DVD was also adapted into a 10-track CD, titled The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories.

Ancillary products

There have been multiple unique book editions,[47] with personalized features. Games, pop-up books,[47] a book/card game combination via University Games,[48] and an educational video game- The Very Hungry Caterpillar's ABCs – released by CYBIRD Co. Ltd. for WiiWare in 2010.[49]

Inaccuracies

In the story, the caterpillar builds a cocoon, and a butterfly emerges. In reality, a caterpillar that makes a cocoon emerges as a moth, while a butterfly will emerge from a chrysalis; various media sources have highlighted this inaccuracy.[50]

Eric Carle responded to this by stating:

"And here's my unscientific explanation: My caterpillar is very unusual. As you know caterpillars don't eat lollipops and ice cream, so you won't find my caterpillar in any field guides. But also, when I was a small boy, my father would say, "Eric, come out of your cocoon." He meant I should open up and be receptive to the world around me. For me, it would not sound right to say, "Come out of your chrysalis." And so poetry won over science!"[51]

References and notes
    1. Fetters, Ashley (March 20, 2019). "How The Very Hungry Caterpillar Became a Classic". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    2. "Eat your heart out". the Guardian. October 22, 2004. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    3. "Google celebrates Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    4. Bird, Betsy. "Top 100 Picture Books #2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
    5. Metrowebukmetro (March 20, 2009). "Hungry Caterpillar author on zoo maths". Metro. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    6. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar Trademark of Penguin Random House LLC - Registration Number 3945957 - Serial Number 77981105 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
    7. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (November 5, 2019). "'Very Hungry Caterpillar' Author Eric Carle Sells Company to Penguin Random House". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    8. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Arabic and English: Eric Carle : 9781852691240". www.bookdepository.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    9. Carle, Eric (1999). La chenille qui fait des trous. Internet Archive. Namur [Belgium]: Mijade. ISBN 978-2-87142-174-0.
    10. La oruga muy hambrienta. 2002. ISBN 039923960X.
    11. Carle, Eric (1969). Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt. ISBN 3806742596.
    12. Carle, Eric (2001). はらぺこあおむし. ISBN 9577620981.
    13. Carle, Eric (1989). Il piccolo Bruco Maisazio. ISBN 8804323329.
    14. Carle, Eric (1998). Den mycket hungriga larven. ISBN 9163812134.
    15. Карл, Эрик (2008). Очень голодная гусеница. ISBN 9785903497041.
    16. "הוצאת הקיבוץ המאוחד - ספרית פועלים". www.kibutz-poalim.co.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    17. "Eric Carle Collection". archive.ph. August 5, 2012. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    18. "Awards". Eric Carle. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    19. "BBC - The Big Read - Top 200 Books". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    20. "National Education Association | NEA". www.nea.org. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    21. Carlson, Jen (January 13, 2020). "These Are The NYPL's Top Check Outs of All Time". Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    22. "Children's classic storybook The Very Hungry Caterpillar wins award". Early Years Educator. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    23. Adam, Helen; Hays, Anne-Maree; Urquhart, Yvonne (2021). "The Exclusive White World of Preservice Teachers' Book Selection for the Classroom: Influences and Implications for Practice". The Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 46 (8): 51–69. doi:10.14221/ajte.2021v46n8.4. S2CID 244197665. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    24. Sugden, Maureen (June 4, 2022). "Issue of the day: Are beloved children's classics 'outdated'?". The Herald. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    25. Goodall, Hamish (June 2, 2022). "Australian researcher claims children's book are not diverse enough". 7 News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    26. O'Brien, Susie; Hodge, Regan (May 29, 2022). "Popular children books deemed not culturally diverse enough". Herald Sun. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    27. Richards, Kel (June 1, 2022). "Kel Richards: Beloved children's classics are being sacrificed at the altar of politically correct wokery". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    28. Molan, Erin (June 3, 2022). "Erin Molan: Storm over classic kids' books is diversity gone mad". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
    29. The librarian's complete guide to involving parents through children's literature, Anthony D. Fredericks, Libraries Unlimited, 1997. ISBN 1-56308-538-0 p. 93.
    30. Teaching Terrific Fours, Annal Jones, Carol Crownover, Elizabeth Jones. Humanism Learning, 2006. Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: Missing ISBN. p. 92.
    31. Roney, R. C. "Back to the Basics with Storytelling." The Reading Teacher 42.7 (1989): 520-3. JSTOR. Web.
    32. Rhodes, Lynn K. "I can Read! Predictable Books as Resources for Reading and Writing Instruction." The Reading Teacher 34.5 (1981): 511-8. JSTOR. Web.
    33. Wiseman, Donna L. "Helping Children Take Early Steps Toward Reading and Writing." The Reading Teacher 37.4 (1984): 340-4. JSTOR. Web.
    34. Neuman, Susan B., and Roskos, Kathleen. "Helping Children Become More Knowledgeable through Text." The Reading Teacher 66.3 (2012): 207-10. JSTOR. Web.
    35. Neal, Judith C., and Moore, Kay. ""The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Meets "Beowulf" in Secondary Classrooms." Journal of Reading 35.4 (1991): 290-6. JSTOR. Web.
    36. "Deconstructing 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar': Excellent food choices, portion control needs work". Los Angeles Times. March 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    37. "Groups Hope "Hungry Caterpillar" Helps Fight Fat". Washington Times. Associated Press. March 8, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
    38. Tate, Mikayla (June 10, 2019). "PSCD Summer Reading: The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Provo City School District. Retrieved July 24, 2020. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into 40 different languages and was also used by Barbara Bush as part of her literacy campaign.
    39. First Day of Spring 2009 - Design by Eric Carle, archived from the original on May 9, 2022, retrieved April 27, 2022
    40. The World of Eric Carle (TV Series 1993) - IMDb, archived from the original on May 2, 2022, retrieved May 2, 2022
    41. Carle, Eric. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories". Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
    42. "Julian Nott". IMDb. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    43. Opening to The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Stories by Eric Carle 1993 VHS (Rare), archived from the original on April 27, 2022, retrieved April 27, 2022
    44. The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other stories. Walt Disney Productions. August 5, 1995.
    45. "Counting on the Caterpillar". July 26, 2005. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    46. The Very Hungry Caterpillar And Other Stories, archived from the original on May 2, 2022, retrieved May 2, 2022
    47. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book - Eric Carle - Penguin Group (USA)". April 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    48. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Spinner: Book And Card Game. Univ Games. January 30, 2007. ISBN 978-1-57528-890-1. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
    49. "The Nintendo Download: Countdown To Excitement". Kotaku. September 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
    50. Giaimo, Giaimo. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar Lied to You As a Child". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
    51. "Many of you ask, why the butterfly in The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes from a cocoon, not a chrysalis?". Eric Carle. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
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