If you've spent any time around kids (or if you’ve ever just been a child in America), you probably know Eric Carle's books the second you see them. The bright, bold illustrations like those in The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? are hard to forget. 

There's something about his art style that has always clicked with kids. Maybe it's because when they look at his caterpillars and bears and butterflies, they think, "Hey, I could make something like that!" For over 50 years, his illustrations and fun, simple stories have invited kids to get creative. 

What Makes a Children's Book Become a Classic?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was published in 1969. It's been translated into more than 60 languages and has sold over 50 million copies worldwide. More than five decades later, it's still a bestseller. Even though these are impressive numbers, they're not what make this book a classic in the minds of the families who love it. 

That feeling comes from watching your toddler poke their finger through the holes in the food, just like you did. It's the way a simple story about a hungry caterpillar can connect grandparents, parents, and kids with shared memories across generations. A classic isn't just a book that survives over the decades. It's one that becomes part of how families connect with each other.

Bringing the Story to Life

We are thrilled to share that we've partnered with the World of Eric Carle to bring The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other stories to life in a whole new way! Our new The Very Hungry Caterpillar chunky chalk collection will help you bring the stories from your bookshelf to life. So after the 37th time you’ve read the book this week, you can grab your chalk and head to the driveway to draw your way through your favorite caterpillar’s iconic feast. 

Here are 4 chalk-play ideas inspired by the book:

The Food Journey
Draw the caterpillar's weekly feast across your sidewalk. One apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday… Name, draw, and count the whole progression together. Make it as simple or elaborate as you want.

The Giant Caterpillar
Draw a caterpillar big enough for your child to walk through or lie down inside. Make big circles connected together, then let your little one add the face and details. This is especially fun if you have a long stretch of sidewalk to work with.

Days of the Week Hopscotch
Mix the caterpillar's eating adventure with hopscotch. Draw seven squares, label them with days of the week, and add the foods. Your child gets to practice their days, work on hopping, and show off their story-telling skills all at once.

Carle-Inspired Color Collages
Chalk on pavement can't quite replicate Carle’s signature tissue-paper art style, but you can definitely capture his bold use of color. Let your child layer different shades together, overlap colors, and forget about staying inside the lines. Carle's art was all about joy and creativity, not perfection.

From Books to Memories

The best children's books don't end when you close the cover. They spill into play, into imagination, and into and into your child’s next art project. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been creating these moments for generations. In living rooms during story time, in classrooms during circle time, and now on driveways and sidewalks where the story can take on new life. These shared experiences become the memories our children carry forward. Maybe someday, they'll even pull out their own worn copy and read it to their little ones.