“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is a beloved children’s picture book written and illustrated by Eric Carle. First published in 1969, the story follows the journey of a hungry caterpillar as it eats its way through various foods before transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Here’s the full story:
In the light of the moon, a little egg hatches, and out comes a tiny and very hungry caterpillar. Right away, the caterpillar starts searching for food. On Monday, he eats through one apple, but he’s still hungry. On Tuesday, he devours two pears, but he’s still not satisfied.
As the week progresses, the caterpillar continues to eat through a variety of foods, including three plums, four strawberries, and five oranges. Despite all this eating, the caterpillar is still hungry.
On Saturday, the caterpillar has a big feast and consumes a vast assortment of treats, such as one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon.
Now, the caterpillar feels full and content. But, after all the eating, he also feels rather sick. So, the next day, which is Sunday, he decides to rest and not eat anything.
During his rest, the caterpillar spins himself into a cocoon. There, he undergoes a remarkable transformation and eventually emerges as a beautiful and vibrant butterfly.
The butterfly flits and floats in the sky, showing off its bright and colorful wings. The story concludes with the butterfly, now no longer a very hungry caterpillar, soaring off into the world.
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is a delightful and educational children’s book that introduces young readers to the concept of counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly. With its eye-catching illustrations and simple yet engaging narrative, the book has enchanted generations of children, becoming a timeless classic in children’s literature.
