I'm pretty selective (ok, I'm VERY selective - there are still less than 10 I use regularly) about the books I choose to use in my programs. They need to be rhythmic and lyric and, ideally, there are plenty of opportunities for group interaction. They need to include challenges that children make for themselves naturally; information that kids want. I have a strong interest in (what I call) 0-5 books - books that you can buy for your new baby and still be interesting (if not intact - although most board books are pretty resilient, in general) by the time their 5 - often even longer. I do find many books that don't quite enough lyrical flow for a larger group exploring music and rhythm but I would highly recommend for home, daycare and reading groups.
The Hungry Caterpillar (age 40 today!) is one of those books.
It has everything! Eric Carle rocks!
Bright simple pictures that can attract the eye of the very, very young (less is more). His interesting design and use of colour and texture means that, even as these simple pictures become clear and retain meaning, children are still drawn to their beauty and then, of course, the story itself:
On a practical level, he introduces the days of the week, counting up to 5, a range of clearly defined colours, a variety of fruit (which encourages good eating habits!), a tiny science lesson and offers an interesting sensory experience as it demonstrates, through it's design, how more things take up more space.
On an emotional level - children can empathize with the lonely caterpillar that can never seem to fill himself up. Even in the strongest family unit, we can all feel lonely - or alone - sometimes, as each of us has a completely unique journey to take to get through life. I don't mean in a deep depressing way, though. An example might be: the day that a toddler just wants to run and run and run and needs to be constantly reminded that "this" is not the time or the place. Why isn't everyone else wanting to run too? Or a child who just first attends daycare - where all the other children seem content to play and s/he can only pine for Mommy and Daddy all day....Just, sometimes, we feel like we're on our own. It's comforting to know that others feel like that sometimes too - even caterpillars. Complicated journey - simple tale....
And, of course, the caterpillar turns into a butterfly - which is every child's story really. A determined sense of adventure mixed with some nutrition and a little rest turns caterpillars into butterflies! Yay!
The Hungry Caterpillar has been in print for 40 years today and is being celebrated by everyone - even Google! and also Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, who is launching The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day on March 20th, They're even providing a downloaded activity kit for Librarians and educators complete with lesson plans, arts and crafts, and other activities for librarians and teachers to share with their students: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/yr/pdf/caterpillar.pdf
Taken from Strollerderby Posted by Hannah Tennant Moore:
Born to German immigrants in New York, [Eric Carle] was upended at the age of six to move back to Germany, for which his mother was terribly homesick. The carefree freedom of the first six years of his life quickly eroded, replaced by teachers armed with bamboo switches and the panic of war. His father was drafted to fight for Germany, leaving Carle and his mother starving and spending much of their time hiding from bombs in their cellar.
******
“With my books,” Carle says, “I try to recapture a period I should’ve had and didn’t—for more fun, more nonsense, more humour.”
Click Here to Read More...
At 10 am is the Free Family Circle in the Founders Room at Swansea Town Hall!
