Happy birthday, hungry caterpillar!

Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" celebrates its 40th birthday this week, and Google is pitching in with a caterpillar-themed logo today (above right). The L.A. Times Festival of Books is celebrating in its own way: This year's logo (above left) is a pupae reading a version of the caterpillar book (maybe its own memoir?).

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar," who eats his way through the book, leaving a trail of holes behind, has sold 29 million copies and has licensing deals, Newsweek reports, of $50 million annually. With the money, Carle established the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass.; its exhibits have celebrated works by Dorothy Kunhardt ("Pat the Bunny"), Arnold Lobel ("Frog and Toad") and Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are").

Carle was born in New York in 1929 to German parents; the family moved back to Germany in 1935. Carle's father was conscripted and sent off to fight; Carle, Newsweek writes, "developed a special bond at school with his art teacher, Herr Krauss, who secretly showed him the works of Picasso, Matisse and Braque, all banned by Hitler." At the end of the war, Carle worked as a file clerk for American services in Germany; he had access to their well-stocked kitchen. Newsweek draws parallels between the young man who raided that larder and the caterpillar with the insatiable appetite.

As for Carle, he thinks of it differently. "It is a book about hope. If you're an insignificant caterpillar, you can grow up to be a big butterfly in the world," he told Newsweek. In a video on his website to celebrate the book's 40th anniversary, he says "growing up can be very difficult --  it's a big secret, it's a big challenge for children -- I like to help the children along." The video also includes film of Carle at work, creating his famous caterpillar for the camera.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Comments

[DANIELLE]

I THINK ERIC CARLE BOOKS ARE GOOD FOR KIDS TO READ BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LITTLE I USED TO READ ERIC CARLE BOOKS ALL THE TIME THEY'RE MY FAVORITE I LOVE YOUR BOOKS ERIC CARLE

[Jen]

I remember reading this book as a child 20 years ago... Seeing the Google logo above brought back fond memories!

[Samantha]

OMG! kyra, frankie, and i LOVE!!!! this bookkk.! ♥/samantha

[ADDISON NOLTE]

I have had the book since my 5th birth day. Iloveit

[Pamela McFarlane]

When I opened Google this morning and saw the 'Hungry Caterpillar', I remembered all the great times I had with my son reading this when he was a small boy. He would race to the end to see the butterfly and sometimes he would get a finger stuck in the holes in the book. He reads it to another child he babysits now and I'm sure it will be shared with his own children when he has them. Many thanks to Eric Carle for all the memories.

[Shavil Lamb]

When I opened google today it took me about 10 seconds to realize why the image looked so familiar. I havent seen or head of this book since 1st or 2nd grade thats over 15 years now. I loved this book as a child it's nice to know that the younger children of today are enjoying this classic childrens book.

[Justin]

Ha ha ha! I use this book at work all the time, kids still love it. Happy birthday VHC.

[French Reader]

I love his books when I was little I would read them all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Raaygan]

I SO LOVE THIS BOOK, REMEMBERING THE DAYS WHEN LIFE WAS SO SIMPLE AND MY TEACHER WOULD READ TO ME ON THE READING CARPET ALMOST EVERYDAY. THIS BOOKS IS ONE OF MY ALLTIME FAVORITES. IT ALSO BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. HAPPY BDAY VHC!!!

[KEITH]

when i opened google today i saw the logo. i noticed it looked very familiar.I remembered i would always read this book in kindergarden and 1st grade i love it. it makes me feel like a kid again. now im 16.HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR!!!

[sammy]

happy b day i love the books

[Liz]

I love this book!! I remember reading it when i was younger!! My computer literature teacher pointed it out to us in class!!