Chicka Chicka Boom Boom 06/25/12

I started off 2010 with a review of Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin Jr. I lamented the confusing nature of this edited book, being drawn from the latter half of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

My daughter had her first Scholastic book order at Kindergarten last Fall. She was adamant that she had to get a copy of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, her favorite book from preschool. As soon as her order came in, she read it to me over lunch.

Until my daughter read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to me, I'd only heard parts of it. I'd heard the first half on Blue's Room and I'd read bits and pieces of the second half in Chicka Chicka ABC but taken apart like that the story lacks the same humor and dramatic timing as the complete book.

The book is about the lowercase letters climbing into a coconut tree one at a time. They all worry if there will be room for them. As Z comes in, they all fall out.

But there's more. There are the adult (or upper case letters) there to clean them up, dry their tears. The book lists all the different bumps and bruises they've had and how they are comforted. It's a charming way to introduce children to upper and lower case letters using familial support to make the connection between the two cases.

Five stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Monday, June 25, 2012 at 16:50:01

Beth

This was a favorite read-aloud for us. The rhythms and pictures worked perfectly together, and the ending which promises it all over again is a great place to leave off.

Comment #2: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 19:57:05

Pussreboots

It was my daughter's favorite preschool story. I think she still reads it to herself on a semi-regular basis before bed.