Sometimes it’s easy to forget the classics that every little one should be introduced to and one of those gems is the excellent book, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. It is a children’s story written by Eric Carle and was first published in 1969. However even by todays standards it has lost none of it’s charm or magic.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold over 30 million copies and has been praised for its use of easy-to-read words which makes it good for teaching young children to read. The book contains 225 words and large, colourful illustrations. 

It follows a caterpillar as it munches its way through a variety of edibles such as ice cream salami, watermelon, one slice of swiss cheese, and a lollipop before it finally pupates and emerges as a butterfly. The story teaches counting to 5, the names of the days of the week, and about different types of food. It is widely regarded as one of the best children’s books ever written and no home should be without a copy.