Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Nursery/Primary Picture  Book

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault is a fun and interactive picture book that is a great way to reinforce the alphabet to young children.  This book is engaging because of its use of nonsense rhyming words and I like how the story flows from front to cover, along with its beautiful illustrations by Louis Elhert.  Elehert's use of bold colors and rounded shapes is enticing for emerging readers.  Throughout the story, the alphabet centers around climbing a coconut tree and the audience can find excitement in every page of this exotic theme.  One reason I love this book is because of the rhymes and there are so many ways to apply it within the classroom! 

In the class...
1.  Students can make a classroom book that introduces each classmate while building on the alphabet letters.  The student's picture would be placed at the top of a coconut tree and each page is laminated for protection.  This take home book is a great way for parents to meet their child's peers because it puts a face to the classmate's name!  Parents in our class loved these classroom books last year!
2. Students can act out the story as teacher read it aloud.  This will promote classroom participation and enhance the vocabulary in the book through repeated and engaging practice of the alphabet.  It will also promote phonemic awareness due to the books alphabetic theme.  While acting the book out, children can also think of words with similar vowel sounds.


A great idea for a bulletin board!

Response questions:
1.  What letter in the alphabet had a loose tooth?
2.  How many letters are in the alphabet?

About the author(s):

This book was co-written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault.  Bill Martin, Jr. has written many children's books and spent time as an elementary school principal.  Other books by the author include:  Chicka, Chicka 123 and Brown Bear, Brown Bear (which was illustrated by Eric Carle).  John Archmambault is best known for his children's music. 

References:
Martin, Bill Jr. & Archambault, John.  (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  New York:  Simon & Schuster.
www.billmartinjr.com
www.johnarchambault.com