The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Front cover illustration | |
| Author | Eric Carle |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Eric Carle |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature (Children's picture book) |
| Publisher | World Publishing Company (US) Hamish Hamilton (UK) |
Publication date | June 3, 1969 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardcover, Board book |
| Pages | 22 |
| ISBN | 0-399-22690-7 (US) |
| OCLC | 21134403 |
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a 1969 children's picture book designed, illustrated, and written by Eric Carle. The plot follows a very hungry caterpillar that consumes a variety of foods before pupating and becoming a butterfly. It incorporates elements that contribute to early childhood education, including counting, days of the week, and food.
Since its publication, the book sold more than 50 million copies, been translated into more than 60 languages, won numerous awards, and been adapted for television. It has been acclaimed as "one of the greatest childhood classics of all time" and praised for its "iconic" art style, featuring collage artwork and pages with holes where the caterpillar "ate" through.