Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

October 1, 1989
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.

July 1, 2013
This favorite of young children, parents, and preschool teachers since its original publication is now available in full in a standard-sized board-book format. (A previous edition included only half the story.) This version contains the entire tale, from the trek up the tree through the pileup and rescue, to the letter A's "dare double dare" in the moonlight.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)