* This post is sponsored by Penguin. I received free product to facilitate my post. All opinions are my own.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is celebrating its 45th Anniversary!!

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As a child, I checked out The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle as often as possible. I loved watching the little caterpillar crawl through the pickle, the cheese, and the cupcake. It quickly became a favorite, and a book I was happy to read again and again.

As a teacher, I always found a way to incorporate The Very Hungry Caterpillar into my lesson plans. Whether we were talking about the beauty of collage, metamorphosis, days of the week, counting, or food choices – Eric Carle’s masterpiece was the perfect vehicle for learning. My students eagerly listened as I read. For many, they were soaking up the words of an old favorite, and for others – a new favorite was discovered.

As a mother, my own four children have fallen in love with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. From the print hanging in our play room to the countless times they’ve been tucked into bed after watching the caterpillar transform, it’s safe to say they are big fans.

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2014 marks the 45th anniversary of Eric’ Carle’s preschool classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 45 years later, fans around the world are still hungry for this classic. The story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar has become a bookshelf staple and classroom must-have because it is simple, beautiful, and timeless. The story of the little (and then not-so-little) caterpillar is unchanging, and a story each generation can relate to. It’s a story about change, growth, and figuring out what works best.

Eric Carle (www.eric-carle.com) is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books Eric Carlefor very young children. He has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, and more than 100 million copies of his books have sold around the world. In 2002, Eric and his wife Barbara opened The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (www.carlemuseum.org) in Amherst, MA, a 40,000 square foot space dedicated to inspiring a love of art among children by introducing them to picture book art by renowned artists from around the world.

If you are not familiar with Eric Carle’s other works – I HIGHLY recommend checking them out. Each of his books have the qualities of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, in that they are gorgeously illustrated, timeless, and delight young and old alike. Eric Carle’s works will continue to inspire children for decades (if not centuries) to come.

 Since its publication in 1969, 36 million copies of the book have sold worldwide and it has been published in 55 languages. That year the book was also named one of the best children’s books of the year by The New York Times, and it has since become a beloved, must-own classic. Today, every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is sold.

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Win it!!

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One lucky Chasing Supermom reader is going to win  a limited edition anniversary tote and a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book! Good luck and thank you for entering!

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