Celebrate the Very Hungry Caterpillar 45th Anniversary!

2014 marks the 45^th anniversary of Eric Carle’s pre-school classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The anniversary will be officially celebrated on the annual “Very Hungry Caterpillar Day” which takes place every year on the first day of spring (March 20^th).

Seriously – is there anyone who doesn’t love the The Very Hungry Caterpillar? It’s such a simple book – but the simplicity is what makes it so wonderful. The bold bright colors pop on a clean white background. The words are uncomplicated enough that even the littlest ears can understand the story – but fun enough to entertain bigger kids too. It was one of my very favorites as a little girl – and it’s been wonderful sharing it with my own daughter too. And it’s definitely not just me who’s a fan….

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.

Eric Carle (www.eric-carle.com) is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for 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.

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I have some fun stuff in store for you guys. Stay tuned here for some super duper cute snacks, crafts, and games over the next two weeks, featuring our favorite little furry caterpillar. Follow the hashtag on Twitter for more cool updates and info – #veryhungrycaterpillar. {If you have any creative ideas to share, tweet them to me @sunandsipcups, using the hashtag, and I’ll be sure to share for you too! I’d love to see them.} And… Enter to win an adorable prize packed stuffed full of great gear to help your family experience the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar in a new way! And be sure to follow them on social media for updates on new products and promotions, and lots of family-friendly fun:

• Visit the Official Site
• Follow @PenguinKids on Twitter
• Like The World of Eric Carle on Facebook
• Like Penguin Kids on Facebook

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 45th Anniversary – Enter to Win!

One super lucky reader will win an awesome prize package filled with fun goodies featuring characters from the book. The winner’s prize package will be courtesy of Penguin. And giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only. Prize package includes all of this:

• A limited edition anniversary tote.
• Adorable caterpillar plush toy
• Their own copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book

So, get your entries in today! The more entries you complete, the more chances you have to win. If you’re a fan of the book too – feel free to leave some comments below with your favorite memories of the book, or posts featuring fun projects featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar – I’m sure we’d all love to check them out. Have fun – and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prizing courtesy of Penguin. Giveaway open to US mailing addresses only. I received a complimentary product package to compensate me for sharing this information – all opinions and over-the-top love for the book are 100% my own.