The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author and Illustrator: Eric Carle

Genre: Fiction

Major Awards: American Institute of Graphic Arts Award, New York Times "Ten Best Picture Books of the Year", Number Two Children's Book by School Library Journal in 2012

Grade Level: Pre-K-2

Summary: This book starts out with a very small caterpillar who is very hungry. Each day he eats something different and eats more than the previous day until he becomes very large. He then goes into his cocoon and eventually comes out as a big, beautiful butterfly.

Evaluation: This book is a classic that I will without a doubt have in my classroom. Its beautiful illustrations are enough to have it on my shelf.

This book is best for ages 4 to 8 because older students would lose interest in the story line. The captivating illustrations will also intrigue younger children and aid them as they are learning to read or help them comprehend the story as they are being read to.

Although I am stating the obvious, this book would be a great way to incorporate literature into a science unit about the life cycle of a butterfly. I actually saw this in a preschool special education room and the kids seemed to love it!