The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Children's Book›The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Entertainment • Children's Book

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a 1969 children's picture book written and illustrated by Eric Carle.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a 1969 children's picture book written and illustrated by Eric Carle. It follows a caterpillar as it eats through different foods before transforming into a butterfly, and it is widely used to introduce counting, days of the week, and basic life-cycle concepts to young children. The book has sold more than 55 million copies and been translated into over 70 languages.

Publication and authorship

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was written and illustrated by American author Eric Carle and first published in 1969. It is one of the most commercially successful and best-known children's picture books of the 20th century.

Plot

The book follows a caterpillar that hatches from an egg and eats through a sequence of foods over several days. After becoming ill from overeating, it eventually eats a leaf, forms a cocoon, and emerges as a butterfly.

Style and educational use

The book uses collage-style artwork and pages with holes that visually track the caterpillar's eating. It also incorporates counting and the days of the week, which has made it popular in early literacy teaching.

Reception and legacy

The book has been widely praised as a classic of children's literature and remains in print through Penguin Random House. Its popularity has led to continued sales, numerous translations, and extensive recognition in children's publishing.

Key facts

  • The book was first published in 1969 and became Eric Carle's best-known work.
  • Its story centres on a caterpillar that eats various foods before becoming a butterfly.
  • The book's collage illustrations and die-cut holes are among its most recognisable features.
  • It has sold more than 55 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 70 languages.
  • The story is often used in early childhood education to teach numbers and days of the week.
🍁
Canadian context

The book is widely available in Canada through major booksellers and libraries, and it is commonly used in Canadian early childhood and primary-school literacy settings.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
It was written and illustrated by Eric Carle.
When was The Very Hungry Caterpillar published?
It was first published in 1969.
What is the book about?
It follows a very hungry caterpillar that eats different foods before transforming into a butterfly.
Why is the book used in education?
It introduces counting, the days of the week, and basic life-cycle concepts for young children.
How successful has the book been commercially?
It has sold more than 55 million copies and has been translated into over 70 languages.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Very_Hungry_Caterpillar
    Supports: 1969 publication, author, plot, educational themes, sales, translations, publisher
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Very-Hungry-Caterpillar
    Supports: Eric Carle as author, 1969 publication, sales and translations
  3. Open Library — https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1216826M/The_very_hungry_caterpillar
    Supports: Plot summary and die-cut page description
  4. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q491657
    Supports: Title and classification as a 1969 book by Eric Carle