FOLLOWING shows in New York and London one of the most iconic characters in children’s literature will be wiggling to Wirral next month.

Adapted for the stage by director Jonathan Rockefeller The Very Hungry Caterpillar will see four master puppeteers bringing to life 75 magical puppets at the Floral Pavilion.

The book's author, Eric Carle has captivated generations of readers with his iconic hand-painted illustrations and distinctive simple stories.

As his best-known work The Very Hungry Caterpillar has nibbled its way into the hearts of millions of children all over the world.

Since it was first published in 1969, Eric has illustrated more than seventy books and more than 132 million copies have been sold around the world.

Jonathan said: “Eric Carle has created a deceptively simple, yet sophisticated introduction to reading through the magic of his iconic collage illustrations and memorable stories.

"I still have my original copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and to this day can’t help but be enthralled by the stylish and captivating art in Eric’s work.

“For many in the audience, this show will undoubtedly be their very first time at the theatre, so we have been very conscientious to ensure that we have been absolutely faithful to their favourite characters.

"Our goal is to take the audience on a truly memorable journey, bringing these stories to life through the magic of puppetry, movement and stagecraft.

"We have a menagerie of larger-than-life puppets, bursting with vibrant colour - it’s astonishing to compare the original illustrations to the puppets and how exact they are."

Eric said: “I am delighted my friends in the UK are able to share the same enjoyment I felt when seeing my characters come to life in the beautiful and enchanting Broadway production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar show.”

The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be at the Floral Pavilion on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 April.

Tickets are £13.50 and are available online via www.floralpavilion.com or by calling 0151 666 0000.