The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar (ISBN 0-399-22690-7) is a children's book written by Eric Carle and originally published in 1969. It has proven to be highly popular and has been praised for its use of easy-to-read words which makes it good for teaching young children to read. The story has been translated into over 50 languages and, as of 2005, a copy is sold roughly every 57 seconds. It was featured on Sesame Street in the early 1990s.
The book contains 225 words and large, colourful illustrations. It follows a caterpillar as it munches its way through a variety of edibles such as ice cream, salami, watermelon and a lollipop before it finally pupates and emerges as a butterfly. The story teaches the life cycle of a butterfly, counting to 5, the names of the days of the week, and about food. Various interpretations have been placed upon it - for example, it is seen as a transformation story in Cambodia and an anti-capitalist work in the former East Germany.
The original title of the book was to have been A Week with Willi Worm, featuring a bookworm named Willi. However, Carle's editor advised that a green worm would not make a very likable protagonist. There are rumours of the film rights having been sold for £1 million [1].
George W. Bush listed the book among his favorite books from when he was growing up in a 1999 survey conducted by Pizza Hut, which caused some controversy among media commentators since Bush was twenty-three when the book was first published. [2] [3] Bush has also chosen the book to read to elementary school classes. [4]
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Day 1
The main character is established. The hungry caterpillar eats a single red apple.
[edit] Day 2
The caterpillar eats 2 green pears.
[edit] Day 3
The caterpillar eats 3 plums.
[edit] Day 4
The caterpillar eats 4 red strawberries.
[edit] Day 5
The caterpillar eats 5 whole oranges.
[edit] Day 6
On this day, the caterpillar devours its way through many, many different foods including; chocolate cake, ice-cream, a pickle, swiss cheese, salami, a lollipop, a cherry pie, a single sausage, a cupcake and a whole watermelon.
[edit] Day 7
The caterpillar eats a single leaf.
[edit] Final chapter
The caterpillar cocoons itself and comes out as a beautiful butterfly. The hungry caterpillar is hungry no more - neither is it a caterpillar.
[edit] References
- Anita Silvey, 100 Best Books for Children, ISBN 0-618-27889-3
- BBC Radio 4, A Good Read, broadcast 8 February 2005
[edit] External links
- "Counting on the Caterpillar" at BBC News, 26 July 2005.
- Eric Carle personal website - Information for teachers and readers.
