Some toddlers will be familiar with this book but are likely to again enjoy hearing the story of a unique animal and looking at the bold illustrations. What happens to the caterpillar at the end of the story is an exciting development that you can enhance with enthusiastic reading. This book includes counting food items, but counting is not expected at this stage of development. Approach the book sharing as a language experience that helps toddlers strengthen their awareness of food names.

Extra support

• Skip some of the food item names on the “Saturday” page if time or toddler interest is limited. Comment on all the food the caterpillar ate that gave him a stomachache!

Enrichment

• Help toddlers connect the food items to their own experiences. Ask if they have eaten some of the foods or whether we sometimes have the food at our center. A toddler may have had a stomachache from eating too much food at a birthday party or family celebration.

Focusing on the names of food items can strengthen toddlers’ vocabulary and general understanding that each item has a specific name. In general, toddlers are not expected to know or be able to say the names of the food items independently, although some toddlers may know the name of the item they selected, as suggested in the activity description. Instead of repeating a food name with you, some toddlers may offer a related response, such as saying the word “yummy” or making a face that communicates dislike. Most toddlers will enjoy feeding the caterpillar. Some toddlers may prefer to hold a food item and watch the activity. Acknowledge different types of participation. Example: “You are holding an orange, Joaquin. Would you like me to feed the orange to the caterpillar, or would you like to hold it?”

Extra support

• If a toddler seems uncertain about what food item to feed the pretend caterpillar, point to one or two of the foods, say the name(s) of the food, and ask if he/she would like to feed this item to the caterpillar. Some toddlers may point to a food but prefer that you put it in the pretend caterpillar container.

Enrichment

• At the end of the activity, invite a toddler to dump all food items on the floor. To support recall, encourage toddlers to pick up the toy food item they feed to the pretend caterpillar. Then briefly review by inviting each toddler to hold his/her food item next to the picture of the item in the book. Example: “This is a toy strawberry. This is a picture of the strawberry in our book.” Point out shape and color.
• Use a descriptive word in front of the food name, making a two-word utterance with each food put into the container. Examples: red strawberry, round orange, or yummy ice cream.
• As a one-to-one follow-up activity, invite a toddler to sort the toy food items into two piles—one for foods he/she has eaten and one for food items he/she has never eaten.