Monday, 10 September 2012

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This book has been one of my favourites ever since I was a young child. This was mainly due to the gorgeous illustrations and the interactive pages. The narrative charts the development of the very hungry caterpillar as it grows from egg  to cocoon to a beautiful butterfly. It is also a very educational picture book as it teaches children about the days of the week, counting, healthy eating and the lifecycle of a caterpillar. For example, the counting lesson is included via the foods being presented in sets of numbers (i.e. one apple, two pears, etc.). This integration of literary, mathematical and scientific information enables the book to be used within a range of different learning areas. The book could also be linked to the Visual Arts learning area as Carle use of vibrantly coloured mixed-media collages could inspire an art activity.

I think that this picture book is most suitable for children aged anywhere between 3 and 6 as it is very simplistic. It touches on the concept of metamorphisis in a way that young children are able to understand and make meaning from.

Kirsty

http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html  - Eric Carle's website

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srk8aAaTFXE - A reading of the story!



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