Written By: Eric Carle

I have read a lot of reviews about this book and Eric carle’s book in general. This is the first time I have managed to get one in hand and boy! it is beautifully written and illustrated. 2 to 3 lines per page at the most with bold and bright colors catching the eyes.

The first time I read this book to my daughter, she was alarmed to see the caterpillar transform into a butterfly. She kept saying it is not a beautiful butterfly, it was a scary butterfly. After the third, forth read she loved the book and pretty much by-hearted by the fifth time. The illustrations are through pictures spawning the size of the page. Very simple to read. Her favorite page of all is the one where the caterpillar eats through a lot of different foods and ends up having a stomach ache.

Its a fun read and educational at the same time. The caterpillar eats different fruits on different days of the week. Also the number of items he would eat would increase by the count of 1. The pictures on the flap would also demonstrate the number of items. I would read the first one – On Monday, he ate through an apple. Would ask her – What comes after Monday. She would immediately say – On Tuesday, he ate through pears. I would ask – How many pairs? She would say -2 pears. And so on.

She loves the part where the caterpillar eats through a lot of foods, especially her favorites – cake, ice cream, lollipop and water melon. And guess? The caterpillar is not tiny any more, it has transformed into a huge, big, strong caterpillar. He then creates a cocoon and shelters in it for the next 2 weeks.
She asks – Mommy, what is a cocoon. I tell her its like her blanket where she cozily sleeps. Just like that, the caterpillar wraps himself inside the cocoon. Two weeks later, nibbles a hole and voila! Becomes a beautiful butterfly.

My daughter is very fond of, obsessed, fascinated with anything pink and/or princess. The third or forth time we read this book, she wanted to be a butterfly when she grew up. But she wouldn’t let go of her pink princess fascination. So the latest is she wants to be a beautiful pretty pink princess butterfly!!