Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

by Bill Martin Jr., Lois Ehlert (Illustrator), John Archambault (Joint Author)

Overview

A told B,

and B told C,

I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree

In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no -- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

The well-known authors of Barn Dance and Knots on a Counting Rope have created a rhythmic alphabet chant that rolls along on waves of fun. Lois Elhert's rainbow of bright, bold, and cheerful colors makes the merry parade of letters unforgettable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689835681
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	08/01/2000
Series:	Kievskaya Rus
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	277
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Bill Martin Jr (1916-2004) has been called “America’s favorite children’s author.” He wrote more than 300 books for children, including the classic texts Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, illustrated by Eric Carle, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, illustrated by Lois Ehlert.

John Archambault is a poet, journalist, and storyteller who worked with Bill Martin Jr on several projects. He lives in Idyllwild, California.

Lois Ehlert has created numerous inventive, celebrated, and bestselling picture books, including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Scraps Book, Mice, Ten Little Caterpillars, Rrralph!, Lots of Spots, Boo to You!, Leaf Man, Waiting for Wings, Planting a Rainbow, Growing Vegetable Soup, and Color Zoo, which received a Caldecott Honor. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Editorial Reviews

"A told B, / and B told C, / I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree." Rascally A entices the whole alphabet up the tree, but the tree cannot handle the weight. All the lowercase letters come crashing to the ground, "Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!" Uppercase letters rush in to comfort the little ones, and all is well-for a while-in this irresistible alphabet book. Ehlert's bright, graphic illustrations join the jazzy foot-tapping rhyme. Watch out for that imp, A!

Barnes & Noble Staff

In this bright and lively rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race each other to the top of the coconut tree. When X, Y and Z finally scramble up the trunk, however, the weight is too much, and down they all tumble in a colorful chaotic heap: ``Chicka Chicka . . . BOOM! BOOM!'' All the family members race to help, as one by one the letters recover in amusingly battered fashion. Poor stubbed toe E has a swollen appendage, while F sports a jaunty Band-Aid and P is indeed black-eyed. As the tropic sun goes down and a radiant full moon appears, indomitable A leaps out of bed, double-daring his colleagues to another treetop race. This nonsense verse delights with its deceptively simple narrative and with the repetition of such catchy phrases as ``skit skat skoodle doot.'' Ehlert's bold color scheme, complete with hot pink and orange borders, matches the crazy mood perfectly. Children will revel in seeing the familiar alphabet transported into this madcap adventure. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Are you bored with the classic ABC song that ends " Now I know my ABC's, won't you sing them back to me"? Then try this jazzy song with a tropical beat. "A told B, and B told C, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.'" "Whee!" asid D to EFG, "Ill beat you to the top of the coconut tree." The race is on and the big question is "Chica chica boom boom, will there be enough room?" What a grand way to start a wintry day.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman