Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Picture Book/Easy Reader

Evaluation of Book

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/chicka-chicka-boom-boom-by-bill-martin-jr/

“A told B and B told C” starts this classic book by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a story of the lowercase letters and their race up the coconut tree. As the lowercase letters come crashing down the uppercase parents come running to the rescue.

The story’s rhythm is one that children will repeat long after the story is done. The delightful illustrations by Lois Ehlert capture the attention of the reader with the bright colors used to tell the story. She continues to use her trademark collage work in this story and her work is thoughtful and effective. The bright pink and orange polka-dotted borders that decorate each page help the reader to focus on the words of the story and the colorful letters stand out on each page. I particularly like the illustration of the “black-eyed p”.

Response

This simple story is so entertaining. When the kindergarten students walk around singing the story, it makes my heart smile. In a noisy library all I need to say is “Chicka chicka boom boom” and it will be echoed by students chanting back, “Will there be enough room?” This simple chant is enough to gain the attention of all. Not many books are capable of bringing order to a noisy classroom.

Conclusion

The rhymes created by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault have appealed to generations. Since its release in 1989 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has become a read aloud favorite. It is one that readers happily return to over and over again and should be found on bookshelves everywhere.

Citation

Martin, B., Archambault, J., & Charles, R. (2013). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York : Simon & Schuster.