The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is assigned in US schools at grades k–2, with a Lexile measure of 460L. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The Very Hungry Caterpillar is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 460L
- Grade range
- Grades K–2
- Age range
- Ages 2–6
- Pages
- 26
- Reading time
- about 30 minutes (est.)
- First published
- 1969
- Genre
- Picture Book / Beginner Reader
- ISBN-13
- 9780399227530
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week — and a memorable spread of food — before spinning a cocoon and emerging as a butterfly. Eric Carle's collage classic teaches counting, days of the week, and metamorphosis, a cornerstone of pre-K and grades K-2 early literacy.
Why widely assigned
This Picture Book / Beginner Reader title, reads at early-reader complexity, typically at grades k–2. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on nature and counting.
Themes
nature · counting · growing up
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
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See all books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–2, with a Lexile measure of 460L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar has a Lexile measure of 460L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
- It takes about 30 minutes to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (26 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 30 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The Very Hungry Caterpillar banned in schools?
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does The Very Hungry Caterpillar explore?
- Central themes in The Very Hungry Caterpillar include nature, counting, growing up. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 460L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades K–2 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.