Very Hungry Caterpillar 40th Anniversary

Happy Birthday Very Hungry Caterpillar!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which was published in 1969. On March 20th we can celebrate“The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day”! The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the more than 70 picture books that Carle has written.

He was born in the U.S. and was raised in Germany during Hitler's reign. His background is in graphic design but since the late 1960's when he illustrated Bill Martin Jr's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? he has been creating books for children. His illustrations are collages made with hand-painted tissue papers, a technique many children have replicated and enjoyed in their classrooms and at home.


Carle is the cofounder of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. To learn more about this author and his influence on children's literature visit his web site: http://www.eric-carle.com/

Celebrate by reading to your child!
Happy Birthday Caterpillar,
Michele, Children's Librarian