The Very Hungry Caterpillar party for a 3 year old begins with every guest receiving a set of antennae made from dollar store headbands, pipe cleaners, and painted Styrofoam balls. A reading of the story is next, followed by a hunt in the yard for variously colored computer printed caterpillars slightly hidden among the flowers, grass, and trees.  There are no winners, just fun discussing the places they were found; how many of each color there are; if they had been real, what would they have been doing where they were found, etc.  Then there is a craft of making butterflies by coloring coffee filters with washable markers, pinching them in the middle with a colored clothespin, and attaching a pipe cleaner for antennae.  Curling the pipe cleaner at the ends makes for a nice touch. The cake is made from 8-10 cupcakes, depending on the # of guests, frosted green and sprinkled with green sugar, except one which is frosted red and sprinkled with red sugar.  This one is the head and has eyes made from yellow Lifesaver candies with a green M&M attached with frosting on each one and a nose made from a brown M&M. The cupcakes are arranged close together in an inchworm shape.  Red candy laces are cut to a desired length for 4 legs on each cupcake, and red candy twists serve as antennae for the head. Candles may be added to as many cupcakes as needed by placing them in Lifesaver candies "glued" on with frosting onto the top of the cupcakes. Treat bags consist of butterfly stickers, the caterpillars found in the hunt, gummy worms, small magnifying glasses, and butterfly bubble necklaces all found at dollar stores.