The Very Hungry Caterpillar Turns 50

This exhibition celebrates The Very Hungry Caterpillar, from its humble origins to one of the most iconic children’s books of all time. Published in 1969, the first edition was produced in Japan since printers in the U.S. could not affordably carry out the complex project of die-cut holes and irregularly-sized pages. With it, Carle transformed the traditional picture book into an interactive object, “a book you can play with, a toy you can read.” 

A copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is sold somewhere in the world every thirty seconds! It has been translated into more than 60 languages. Over the years, Carle has come to realize that his story is one of hope. “Like the caterpillar,” says Carle, “children will grow up and spread their wings.” 

This exhibition was made possible through the generous support of the Hsin-Yi Foundation, with additional support from Penguin Young Readers.