There?s a reason that every 30 seconds, on average, Eric Carle?s The Very Hungry Caterpillar is purchased somewhere in the world. There?s a reason the book has sold over 50 million copies globally, and there?s a reason it?s been a child (and parent) bedtime staple for more than 50 years.
The reason" The Very Hungry Caterpillar is more than just a soothing nighttime story. The book?s lively and bright images?which Carle apparently created by dabbing tissue paper with acrylic paint and then cutting out the proper shapes?coupled with the sensory, caterpillar-nibbled pages make it a memorable experience for readers of all ages.
But what most fans don?t know about the iconic children?s book is that it almost didn?t make it to print.
The story follows a hungry caterpillar who munches his way through a series of delicious foods in order to reach metamorphosis and become a beautiful butterfly. Each of the tasty items the caterpillar snacks on throughout the book feature a ?bite? from the caterpillar, represented by a hole punch, and it was exactly this innovative and interactive feature that made the book so difficult to produce.
?I couldn?t find anyone in the US who could manufacture this book,? Carle?s editor Ann Beneduce revealed, referring to the challenges the hole-punched pages presented for American printers, along with the book?s unique bindings and page designs. But Beneduce was ?determined to publish it.?
On a trip to Japan, she took the book with her to show Japane...