The Very Hungry Caterpillar

by Eric Carle
Published by Philomel Books
Copyright 1969 and 1987

Summary: Follows the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food, until, full at last, he forms a coccoon around himself and goes to sleep.

Strengths: The illustrations show a wide variety of vivid colors and being happiness because of such the bright colors. The author's use of the white spaces works in this book because it brings out the vivid use of colors. The illustrations are also simplistic which makes it easy for readers to depict what things are.

Concerns: It is just the same black font throughout the entire book and it is also small which can be hard and difficult for viewers to see who are sitting farther away in a classroom.

Age level: (PreK, Primary)

Classroom Use: It is good for progressions in which the caterpillar goes from being very small to being very fat and it goes through the stages of becoming a beautiful butterfly. Also, this book emphasizes counting principles by counting how many foods he eats each day when he becomes fat.