What book comes first to mind when you think about children’s picture books? For me, one of the top five is always Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Not only is it a fantastic classic piece of children’s literature; it’s also one of my favorite books from childhood.

If you’re not familiar with the book, it’s about exactly what the title says—a very hungry caterpillar who eats everything in sight. It’s got Carle’s trademark vivid paintings, and each time the caterpillar devours his way through one piece of food or another (from fruits to leaves to sweets that give him a tummy ache), a hole appears through that piece of food painted on the page. The caterpillar grows bigger and bigger until one day he becomes a big, beautiful butterfly, portrayed through Carle’s gorgeous artwork.

It’s a lot of fun to read—not only because of the story and pictures, but because the pages themselves are quite unique. Each page is a different size, another trademark of many Carle books, and children love to turn them and delight at what they’ll discover next.

In addition to the enjoyment provided by the book itself, there are plenty of merchandise items that can be purchased to go along with the book, such as a stuffed caterpillar, a board game, and plenty of other toys. It’s also perfect for a variety of lessons and art projects at home. If you’re interested in adapting the book for a project, here are a few ideas:

Cut out lots of pretend food and punch holes in them all, as if the caterpillar had bitten through them. Then make a “caterpillar” by wrapping some Scotch tape around about an inch of green yarn, leaving plenty of yarn—maybe a yard or so—attached to the taped portion. Let your child thread the yarn through the food, symbolizing the caterpillar’s movement and working on fine motor skills.

Paint what you think the caterpillar will look like when he turns into a butterfly.

Discuss the science of metamorphosis, the stages of life of a caterpillar, and compare them to people as well as other animals who go through such stages, such as frogs.

Visit a butterfly house to learn more about the insects.

Create a smorgasbord snack together featuring the items in the book.

The book and its wonders are perfect for any toddler, preschooler, or even older children who appreciate the beauty and magic of metamorphosis.