The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is an absolute classic! This is one of the cherished books from my childhood, and I believe that no child should be without this book in their personal collection. This is the story of a caterpillar's life, from egg to butterfly. In the course of the his quest for food, the little caterpillar eats a ton of food, before settling on the food a caterpillar should eat, a nice, green leaf. Then,

He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself. He stayed inside for more than two weeks. Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and...he was a beautiful butterfly!

I like to use The Very Hungry Caterpillar to reinforce counting skills and discuss why the caterpillar got a stomachache from his glutinous feast. Children love to point to the illustrations as they are read and counted, thus practicing one-to-one correspondence. This book also introduces some rare words, like "cocoon" for young children to learn. I have heard some parents and teachers express concern over the use of the word "fat" to describe the caterpillar after his feast, but I personally do not take offense.

This book has been heavily marketed into games, clothing, etc., but there are many natural extensions to the book that don't require commercialization. Once, I had a kindergarten student make the most beautiful mobile based on this book. It is also a great book to read while hatching painted ladies in the classroom or at home.