Module 2: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert is a romping trip through the alphabet that leaves the reader with a smile and a suspicion that this book will be read more than once!

Summary

The small letters of the alphabet are in a race to the top of a coconut tree, chasing one another as they go in a rhyming chant, they muse about whether there will be enough room at the top for the whole alphabet.  Once everyone gets to the top, the tree can’t hold the weight and they all tumble to the ground.  The resulting pile of jumbled up letters is met with their concerned parents, the uppercase letters, who coddle their young ones with skinned knees, black eyes, and loose teeth.  But, once they are safely at home and the full moon comes out, the little letters call out a dare to race back to the top of the tree.

Impressions

The vivid, yet simple illustrations of Ehlert are a perfect compliment to the sing-song style of the rhymes in this book.  Children will easily connect with the story and, at ages 4 and up, should begin to recognize relationships of the upper and lowercase letters.  The large block letters are colorful and written in a printing font that should allow children to identify the letters.  Repeated patterns of language and simple phrases give the text a predictability that helps young children participate in the story.   The use of repeated shapes and colors lend continuity to the pages.  Each double page spread features the coconut tree and a familiar polka dot border.  The end papers have the entire alphabet, in both upper and lowercase, in order from A to z.

The sound of the words and the boom booms give this book such a fun beat.  Along with a mischievous double dare at the end of the story, children as young as 3 and all the way up to 6 or 7 should enjoy this book.

Professional Reviews

A polka-dot border, bold graphic shapes and a lilting, chant-aloud refrain bring the excitement to this alphabet rhyme. The letters climb one by one to the top of the coconut tree, fall down bruised and banged up. Stubbed-toe “E” and loose tooth “T” truly spark Ehlert’s imagination. When all are patched back together, it is “A” who creeps out of bed to start the climb again. Equally attractive to the youngest learners and those mastering concepts.

Burke, 1990

Rap comes to alphabet books. Martin and Archambault have produced an engaging rhyme with restless, exciting rhythms to convey the humorous adventures of the letters of the alphabet and a coconut tree. Essentially “A” bets the others it can beat them to the top of the coconut tree - and the race is on. Ehlert’s bright, primary color illustrations add to fun as the 26, fall down (requiring parental care and bandages), and abandon their efforts (although “A” mischievously starts off again at night). In the illustrations, the 26 protagonists are in lower-case letters, while their parents are upper case,  adding another dimension - although the humor may be more appreciated by older children. This is not a first alphabet book as the mishaps of the letters greatly overshadow the tutelary value. Still, this goes further in making arid print more friendly and comfortable than other books of this genre.

Philbrook, 1989

Library Uses

This book could be used for a Mommy & Me type of activity time in the library. The rhyming chant and rhythm of the book invite movement and finger plays. Another fun activity is to have children design additional wounded letter characters similar to those in the story.  An easy game is to have die cut lower case letters in a “pile up” that children pull out and match with their “parent” upper case letters.

References

Burke, T. L. (1990). Books for children: Fiction--Chicka chicka boom boom. Childhood Education, 
     66(4), 262. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docvie/210383890?accountid=7113

Martin, B., Archambault, J., Ehlert, L., (1989). Chicka chicka boom boom. New York, NY: Simon & 
     Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Philbrook, J., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., & Suhr, V. M. (1989). Chicka chicka boom boom. School Library 
     Journal, 35(15), 89.