It has been close to 5 months since I posted in the space of ‘Love for Books’. From this week, encouraged by the Write Tribe pro blogger challenge for posting twice a week, I resume blogging about the children books Dhruv and I read together.
The current favourite is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle. We have been reading this book night and day ever since this book arrived 1 month back. Oh…I did not realise we have been reading this book for so long.
Our copy
It is a very attractive book with its vivid and colourful collage illustrations and its simple, hopeful story. Even I like to turn its pages again and again.
The story begins with an egg lying on a leaf. In the warmth of one Sunday morning the egg hatched and out came a tiny little caterpillar. Soon he started looking for food for he was very hungry. On different days of the week, beginning Monday he started eating various fruits until Saturday because no matter how much he ate he still remained hungry.
The fruits he ate from Monday to Friday.
One apple on Monday
Two pears on Tuesday
Three plums on Wednesday
Four strawberries on Thursday
Five oranges on Friday
Saturday feast
Saturday was a party day for our dear little caterpillar as Dhruv points out since he (the caterpillar) ate through one piece of chocolate cake, an ice cream, a slice of cheese, a lollipop, a slice of cherry pie and a cupcake along with a few more.
Next was a lesson Dhruv got that if you eat such things, which the caterpillar had on Saturday, all at one time you are likely to end up with a stomach ache just like the caterpillar.
On Sunday, the caterpillar ate through a nice green leaf and he felt much better.
After eating for the whole week, the tiny caterpillar became a big, fat caterpillar and he wove a coccon around himself. Staying inside for two weeks he pushed his way out out and he changed into a beautiful butterfly.
No longer tinyThe transformation
Dhruv is not all amused to see the beautiful butterfly spreading its colourful patterned wings on the last page for he is concerned about the caterpillar. He gives out a sad cry each time (its all his dramatization) saying ‘Where is my caterpillar, my tiny caterpillar?’
The learning from this book has been the names and the sequence of the days of the week and we practiced counting. It is fun for Dhruv pretending his finger to be the caterpillar and passing it through the holes in the book in the pictures of various foods which the caterpillar created while eating them.
Our Learnings
I do not remember if a caterpillar has been a lovable living being ever prior to this lovely book.
Great 🙂 E2 is working. I will have to seriously think about searching it in the house and take it up for reading next.
Dhruv and I love reading and these reading sessions are meant for fun while the learning just happens on its own. There are no deliberate attempts to teach anything this way. To teach is to push and pushing may not necessarily result in learning. I hope you will agree.
Thanks Vidya for dropping by. You know what I got introduced to this magical world of children books through my son. I love his books more than mine and I read more of children books than those meant for adults. 🙂
Thanks Vinitha. I am sure Kanna would have also read it for a long time. Now being a big boy he has outgrown it. This book is a classic and I would treasure it long after Dhruv outgrows it. :-). By the ways thanks for suggesting to join write tribe.
Thanks Shalini. This book is available as board books and pop up books too.
I loved reading your poem ‘Missing you’. The emotion is so beautifully expressed, I could even feel the pinch of pain myself.
This (and other books by Eric Carle) were favorites when my son was young – well over 20 years ago. So colorful, and a simple,yet educational story. The best books are those both the reading parent and the child enjoy together.
Its amazing. This book was first published 40 years ago and it has been the widest read book ever since. Your son enjoyed reading it 20 yeas ago and now his children will love it too (when they are born) a few years down the line. This makes it a true classic. 🙂
It’s amazing how the book’s structured, and how you and Druv are able to use it fully. I remember, a few years ago, it was a struggle to get such good books for our children. Remember no internet, and no connection as you are enjoying now. My love to Druv 🙂
Thanks Prasanna ji. I do not feel good addressing you by your first name since you are way too elder than me in age and in wisdom.
You are right we did not have access to these wonderful books years back. So its an all new magical world of children books for me.
I loved reading about your son’s impressions on this book and him missing the caterpillar when it turned into a butterfly. How cute! I got rather nostalgic reading about the book as it was a favourite of my two boys when they were small and now they’re 19 and 21. Sniff. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks for dropping by Cathy and loving the post. While this post gave you memories, you gave me a peek into the future when I will be nostalgic about reading this book when Dhruv grows up and will move away. Hopping on to your about page I found out a similarity between us – being an introvert and the preference for chat and email over a phone call.
I grew up with this book and when my son was little we found a bunch of caterpillars and watched them grow and eat and grow and eat (while reading the book as well) until they finally built the cocoons and then emerged as butterflies. It was such a great thing and it made me love the book even more…
Wow!!! What a great thing to do watching real caterpillars eat and grow, become cocoons and butterflies. Thanks for dropping by. Pick of the week is surely a nice way of giving life to the older blog posts. I am inspired.
Am sure Ishaan would enjoy it definitely. You can buy its board book or cloth book which is appropriate for his age now. Let him nibble the fruits and party menu along with the caterpillar 🙂
Hey Anamika! My 2 year old love this book so much that I threw a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed birthday party for her this year. Such a simple book but give so many lessons to these little readers. My girl love to say “But he was till hungry”
A 2 year old saying “But he was still hungry” must be sounding very cute in her toddler language. It is indeed a wonderful book and yet so simple. Thanks for visiting Charu 🙂
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog.
I really hope to check out the same high-grade content by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me
to get my own website now 😉
Interesting to read, Anamika. I could imagine the lil caterpillar’s life lively. It’s lucky that our kids could find such beautiful books easily for their learning and enjoyment. Thanks for replugging this post today.
I remember reading this book when my son was a toddler and I need to pick it up again for my daughter now. Thanks for sharing this Anamika 🙂. It is a wonderful way to teach about the life cycle of butterfly- fun and learning combined.
The Bespectacled Mother 
Anamika! I was to look for a butterfly today as per second experiment of E2 and guess what, I found it here on your blog! It works, buddy!
Ofcourse, it was an awesome read on how to teach kids basic stuff by making them interesting
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Great 🙂 E2 is working. I will have to seriously think about searching it in the house and take it up for reading next.
Dhruv and I love reading and these reading sessions are meant for fun while the learning just happens on its own. There are no deliberate attempts to teach anything this way. To teach is to push and pushing may not necessarily result in learning. I hope you will agree.
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Agree!
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What a fun thing to do with your kids, to initiate him into the magical world of books 🙂
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Thanks Vidya for dropping by. You know what I got introduced to this magical world of children books through my son. I love his books more than mine and I read more of children books than those meant for adults. 🙂
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We have this book. Not reading this anymore. Kanna loved it. 🙂 Nice description, Anamika.
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Thanks Vinitha. I am sure Kanna would have also read it for a long time. Now being a big boy he has outgrown it. This book is a classic and I would treasure it long after Dhruv outgrows it. :-). By the ways thanks for suggesting to join write tribe.
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Beautifully written! I’ll keep a note of the book for future reference 😛
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Thanks Shalini. This book is available as board books and pop up books too.
I loved reading your poem ‘Missing you’. The emotion is so beautifully expressed, I could even feel the pinch of pain myself.
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This (and other books by Eric Carle) were favorites when my son was young – well over 20 years ago. So colorful, and a simple,yet educational story. The best books are those both the reading parent and the child enjoy together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its amazing. This book was first published 40 years ago and it has been the widest read book ever since. Your son enjoyed reading it 20 yeas ago and now his children will love it too (when they are born) a few years down the line. This makes it a true classic. 🙂
LikeLike
It’s amazing how the book’s structured, and how you and Druv are able to use it fully. I remember, a few years ago, it was a struggle to get such good books for our children. Remember no internet, and no connection as you are enjoying now. My love to Druv 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Prasanna ji. I do not feel good addressing you by your first name since you are way too elder than me in age and in wisdom.
You are right we did not have access to these wonderful books years back. So its an all new magical world of children books for me.
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What a lovely tale about the caterpillar! I am glad your son enjoys reading. It sure is a good book.
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Thanks Inderpreet for dropping by. Yes it is a wonderful book. 🙂
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I loved reading about your son’s impressions on this book and him missing the caterpillar when it turned into a butterfly. How cute! I got rather nostalgic reading about the book as it was a favourite of my two boys when they were small and now they’re 19 and 21. Sniff. Thanks for the memories!
LikeLike
Thanks for dropping by Cathy and loving the post. While this post gave you memories, you gave me a peek into the future when I will be nostalgic about reading this book when Dhruv grows up and will move away. Hopping on to your about page I found out a similarity between us – being an introvert and the preference for chat and email over a phone call.
LikeLike
I grew up with this book and when my son was little we found a bunch of caterpillars and watched them grow and eat and grow and eat (while reading the book as well) until they finally built the cocoons and then emerged as butterflies. It was such a great thing and it made me love the book even more…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!!! What a great thing to do watching real caterpillars eat and grow, become cocoons and butterflies. Thanks for dropping by. Pick of the week is surely a nice way of giving life to the older blog posts. I am inspired.
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Thank you 🙂
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How did I miss this post of yours?
I loved the way, you addressed “lil catterpillar”. Is this such an old story! Lovely ! Thanku for sharing. Am sure even Ishaan would love.
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Am sure Ishaan would enjoy it definitely. You can buy its board book or cloth book which is appropriate for his age now. Let him nibble the fruits and party menu along with the caterpillar 🙂
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I discovered this through my kid’s school library and loved it. Thanks for reminding me of its existence
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it is amazing for me too the way I am discovering wonderful books through my son. Thanks for visiting Charu 🙂
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The pleasure is all mine. It is beautiful how we connect with strangers through a medium we are still discovering.
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I’m going to buy this book right away. My little P is off his food and may be this will encourage him to eat!
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Hope the caterpillar in the book serves the purpose well 🙂
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Hey Anamika! My 2 year old love this book so much that I threw a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed birthday party for her this year. Such a simple book but give so many lessons to these little readers. My girl love to say “But he was till hungry”
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A 2 year old saying “But he was still hungry” must be sounding very cute in her toddler language. It is indeed a wonderful book and yet so simple. Thanks for visiting Charu 🙂
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You have an amazing blog, Anamika 🙂
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Thanks for the compliment Charu. It has lighted up my day 🙂 Looking forward to build a great blogging relationship with you.
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My kids love this one!
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I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog.
I really hope to check out the same high-grade content by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me
to get my own website now 😉
LikeLike
Interesting to read, Anamika. I could imagine the lil caterpillar’s life lively. It’s lucky that our kids could find such beautiful books easily for their learning and enjoyment. Thanks for replugging this post today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember reading this book when my son was a toddler and I need to pick it up again for my daughter now. Thanks for sharing this Anamika 🙂. It is a wonderful way to teach about the life cycle of butterfly- fun and learning combined.
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Nice to read about this book.Takes us back to the innocent childhood days.Loved reading about your caterpillar book experience
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Enjoyed reading the journey of a Very Hungry CatterPillar……
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