Originally, it was very difficult to mass-produce The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle was unable to find a US printer to take on a book with so many die cuts at an affordable price. Eventually, a Japanese publishing house was found that took on the project and manufactured the book at a reasonable cost. [1]
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a much-loved children’s book designed, illustrated, and written by American children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle. First published on 3 June 1969, this timeless classic has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of young readers.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is Carle’s third book. The plot follows the journey of a hungry little caterpillar that eats a variety of foods before pupating and emerging as a butterfly. It incorporates elements that contribute to children’s education, such as counting, the days of the week, food, and a butterfly’s life cycle.
What sets this book apart is its innovative design, the use of vibrant, hand-painted illustrations, and holes in the pages where the caterpillar “eats” through the story and was innovative for its time.
Since its publication, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold more than 50 million copies, been translated into more than 60 languages, won various awards, and been adapted for stage and television. It has been lauded as one of the greatest childhood classics of all time. The book is currently published by Penguin Random House, who also bought the title from Carle in 2019.