News | March 12, 2019

Eric Carle Museum Announces the Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

Amherst, MA -- The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will celebrate the 50th birthday of The Very Hungry Caterpillar during its annual Very Hungry Caterpillar Day celebration on Sunday, March 24 from noon to 4 pm. The day-long celebration features special art projects, a visit from the Caterpillar costume character, a storytime by local author Angela DiTerlizzi, and a sale in The Carle Bookshop. The event also coincides with the final day of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Turns 50 exhibition.

Angela DiTerlizzi, author of Just Add Glitter and Some Bugs, will present a special storytime and book signing, and join The Very Hungry Caterpillar costumed character and museum guests in a Wiggle Jiggle Dance Party.Visitors to the Art Studio can contribute to a large collaborative caterpillar creation designed and facilitated by students from Holyoke Community College. The Caterpillar Lab (a non-profit organization based in New Hampshire that fosters an appreciation for the wonderful world of caterpillars) will share a Springtime Caterpillar Bonanza, where guests can learn about native caterpillars. Guests can meet and get their photo taken with The Very Hungry Caterpillar costumed character and join in a Wiggle Jiggle dance party. Also, all Very Hungry Caterpillar items in The Carle Bookshop will be 15% off (Members save 30%).

This day is also the last chance for guests to view The Very Hungry Caterpillar Turns 50 exhibition. It features work from every page and explores the origins of this classic children's book. Other highlights include the one-of-a-kind Very Hungry Caterpillar necklace Carle gave his late wife, Bobbie, as well as posters he made to commemorate earlier anniversaries of the book.

Since its publication in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into 62 languages, most recently Yiddish and Mongolian. Fifty years later, a copy of the book sells somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Carle believes this book stands out as such a beloved classic because it is about hope. "Like the caterpillar," he says, "children will grow up and spread their wings."

SCHEDULE:

12:00 pm

Museum opens to the public

12:30pm

FILM: Eric Carle: Picture Writer (30 min., Auditorium)

12:30 - 4:30pm

Springtime Caterpillar Bonanza with The Caterpillar Lab! (Great Hall)

1:00 - 1:30pm

Meet The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Great Hall)

1:30 - 1:45pm

Wiggle Jiggle Dance Party with the Very Hungry Caterpillar (Great Hall)

2:00 - 2:30pm