My Favorite Books For Language Development
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Why I Love “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” for Building Language Skills
As a speech-language pathologist (and mom), I’m always on the lookout for books that do more than just tell a cute story—they need to build language, spark curiosity, and hold little attention spans (which we know is no small task). The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a classic that checks every single box.
Even after reading it countless times with my own kids and in therapy sessions, I still find something new to love about it. There’s a reason this book has been around for over 50 years—it’s a treasure trove for early language development!
Whether you’re reading this as a parent, caregiver, or fellow SLP, here are 5 key areas this book supports that make it a staple on my shelf:
1. Vocabulary Expansion
From fruits to days of the week to descriptive food words like “salami” and “lollipop,” this book is packed with real, functional vocabulary. It’s great for introducing new words in a predictable context—especially for our little ones working on expressive language.
SLP Tip: Use real or pretend food to act out the caterpillar’s meals for a multi-sensory language experience!
2. Exclamatory Words & Emotion Words
“BUT he was still hungry!”
Young kids love this line—and it’s a great chance to model exclamatory words (wow! uh-oh! yum!) and emotions (tired, full, happy, hungry). These words are often overlooked, but they’re crucial for expressive development and social language.
3. Early Counting and Sequencing
This book sneaks in counting and sequencing in the most fun way. You can work on number concepts (1 apple, 2 pears…) and reinforce sequential vocabulary like first, next, then, and last.
SLP Tip: Have kids retell the story using a felt board or printed visuals to build narrative and sequencing skills.
4. Repetitive & Predictable Text
Predictable text helps children anticipate and participate. The repetition in this book (“On Monday he ate through…”) invites kids to fill in the blanks, especially those with limited verbal output or emerging speech.
5. Life Cycle & Categorization
It’s never too early to introduce science concepts in a developmentally appropriate way. The book introduces the life cycle of a butterfly, making it a perfect intro to categorization: food vs animals, days of the week, before/after, big/small.
In My Therapy Sessions and at Home…
I use this book often with toddlers and preschoolers. My boys love pointing to the holes in the food (so many sensory moments!), and it naturally sparks conversation. Pairing it with play food, crafts, or even a caterpillar snack makes it even more engaging.
I’ll be posting a short video walkthrough soon showing how I use this book at home and in sessions—so stay tuned!
Final Thoughts
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is so much more than a sweet story. It’s a language-rich experience you can return to again and again. If you’re working on early vocabulary, sequencing, or just looking for a fun book to connect with your child or students—this one is a must.