Libraries are more than books. Some kids need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I gleaned the following from PUBYAC contributors. If you're a member, check out the archives. Please add YOUR comments. Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works, and what didn't!

(see also: http://www.eric-carle.com/bb-VHC.html;

http://www.teachingheart.net/veryhungrycaterpillar.html)

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, by Eric Carle

b. June 25, 1929

REFRESHMENTS:

• VHG Fruit Salad
• Butterfly cupcake, sandwich, snack--see Recipes for Storytime

CRAFTS:

• Mobile
• Caterpillar crafts
• Butterfly crafts
• Flower crafts

GAMES AND ACTIVITIES:

• Read as an interactive story with the children acting out the various stages of the life-cycle     
• Egg--Have the children hold their ankles, bend down, with a rounded body
• Larva--Have the children squirm like a worm
• Pupa--Have the children take turns crawling into a sleeping bay or king-size pillow cases, (With colorful scarves tucked inside)
• Butterfly--Have the children emerge dancing and darting with their colorful scarves

PROGRAM:

• Read the book--talk about bugs
• Sing songs
• Read poetry
• Dance
• Have one or two stations for crafts
• Have plenty of word searches and coloring sheets on hand as the children work their way through the stations
• End with refreshments