The Christmas countdown emails have started landing, and the wishlist questions are not far behind. What will actually get played with after Boxing Day? What will hold a toddler's attention once the wrapping paper is gone? This year, the answer might already be on your bookshelf. Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ has been a bedtime favourite for generations of families, and our The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ range turns that much loved story into hands-on play for little ones from 18 months.
From Story Time to Play Time
- Read it: inspired by Eric Carle's much loved picture book, share the story and meet its bold colours and characters.
- Touch it: chunky pebbles and cubes, sized for little hands from 18 months.
- Learn through it: sort, count and build, with activity cards to guide play.
Why Is The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Such a Good Fit for the Christmas Wishlist?
First published in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ is an iconic and beloved children's literature classic, from the acclaimed author and illustrator of over 75 titles, Eric Carle. He created his signature style by cutting and layering hand-painted tissue paper into expressive collages known for their unique colour and texture.
At its heart, the story is about hope and growing up, as the little caterpillar grows from a tiny egg into a beautiful butterfly. Along the way, it gently introduces children to counting, nutrition and the days of the week. That mix of creativity, curiosity and early learning is exactly what we aim for in our own toys, which is why we are so proud to bring The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ into our range.
Our The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ range celebrates this legacy by blending storytelling, sensory play and early learning through play. Read the book together, then build, stack and sort using the colours and characters your toddler already knows and loves.
For 30 years, Edx Education has created hands-on resources that help children play, learn and create. Bringing that together with a story that has inspired generations felt like a natural next step.
Which The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Toys Should You Add to the List?
Open-ended toys give toddlers something to grow into, rather than something they master and forget by New Year. These two sets are a lovely place to start:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Construction Cubes: from flat pictures to 3D builds
Our The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Construction Cubes include 27 chunky cubes in 6 colours, each around 2.5cm, so toddlers can grip, connect and pull them apart with confidence. The 6 double-sided activity cards start with simple flat patterns before moving on to 3D builds. Along the way, little ones sort by colour, count cubes as they build and name the fruits and animals from the story. Once a model is finished, it is the perfect prop for retelling the story in their own words.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Rainbow Pebbles®: when a classic meets a classic
Rainbow Pebbles® are one of Edx Education's best-loved classics, and this toddler-sized version brings them together with a much loved picture book. The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Rainbow Pebbles® include 12 smooth pebbles in red, green and blue, the longest measuring around 7.5cm, plus 6 activity cards. Toddlers can lay the pebbles over the cards to build the caterpillar piece by piece, then move on to sorting by size and colour, counting and making simple symmetrical patterns. When they are ready, the pebbles come off the cards for freestyle stacking and balancing.
What Are Some Easy Christmas Play Ideas With These Toys?
- Story time, then play time: read The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ together, then build the caterpillar with pebbles or cubes and let your toddler tell the story their way.
- Advent tower: add one cube to a tower each day in December and count how tall it has grown.
- Colour hunt by the tree: spot red, green and blue decorations on the Christmas tree, then match them to the Rainbow Pebbles®.
Looking for more festive ideas? Our free Fun Family Christmas Activities pack includes three printable The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ activities, from counting cubes under Christmas trees to building gift box shapes, designed to use alongside My First Construction Cubes.
FAQs: The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Christmas Gifts
What age are these toys suitable for?
Both My First Construction Cubes and My First Rainbow Pebbles® are designed for children aged 18 months and up, with enlarged pieces that are easy for little hands to grasp, hold and stack.
Are these toys suitable for younger toddlers?
Yes. Both sets have enlarged pieces designed for children from 18 months, making them easy for little hands to hold, stack and explore. Adult supervision during play is always recommended.
What activities are included?
Each set includes 6 activity cards (double-sided in My First Construction Cubes) with simple challenges around colours, counting, sorting and symmetry, plus plenty of room for open-ended play.
Do these toys go well with The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ book?
Yes. Giving a set alongside the book makes a thoughtful Christmas gift, as toddlers can recognise the colours and characters from the story and bring them to life through play.
At Edx Education, we are passionate about helping parents and caregivers create playful learning opportunities through educational toys, downloadable activities and our podcast Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education. Explore the full The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ range.
Whatever ends up on your list this year, starting early gives you time to choose toys your toddler will love, rather than whatever is left on the shelves in December. Happy wishlist writing!
© 2026 Penguin Random House LLC. ERIC CARLE, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, THE WORLD OF ERIC CARLE logo, the Caterpillar logo and related designs, logos, and names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is published by Penguin Random House LLC.
Keywords: The Very Hungry Caterpillar toys UK, Eric Carle toys, Christmas gifts for toddlers, Christmas wishlist toddler toys, Rainbow Pebbles toddler, construction cubes toddler
