To+Kill+a+Mockingbird

Book Review by Kate Lis __** Chicka Chicka Boom Boom **__ Written by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault Illustrated by Lois Ehlert

__ISBN-13__: 9780671679491 __Publisher__: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers __Publication date__: 10/1/1989 __Pages__: 40 __Age range__: 3 - 5 Years


 * Summary **

This story is about the 26 letters of the alphabet all attempting to get to the top of a coconut tree. Each lowercase letter is introduced and displayed whilst struggling to read the top with the rest of the alphabet. Once all the lower case letters reach the top the tree becomes so heavy they all fall off. The upper case letters decide to show up and help their "younger relatives" out!


 * Review **

__Chicka Chicka Boom Boom__ is awesome for children who are just starting out learning the alphabet and what each letter looks like. I appreciate that fact that each letter is shown in lowercase and uppercase which gives the child a clearer picture that there are two forms of each letter. Another aspect of this story that makes it ideal for children is the rhyming that is used. The sing song way that __Chicka Chicka Boom Boom__ is written makes it super catchy and exciting to learn the letters of the alphabet. I know once you read it once you'll want to sing it over and over again!


 * Analysis of a Literary Element **

__Chicka Chicka Boom Boom__ has a purpose to help teach children the letters of the alphabet in an interactive way. The illustrations in this book use bold colors and large shapes which helps keep the eye focused on the letters being taught. The bright colors help make the book exciting and inviting. The repetition in the rhyme used helps keep the children involved in the story. Every time the words, "chicka chicka boom boom," are read the whole class can read along.


 * Author Biography **

Bill Martin Jr. was born March 20, 1916 in Hiawatha, Kansas. He seemed to always have trouble with reading until he reached college. He attended colege at Kansas State Teacher's College where he would memorize poems that his teacher taught to help him with his work. Excited to start helping children learn he attended Northwestern University in 1961. After he graduated he taught highschool in Kansas. During World War II Martin served in the air force where he wrote his first book, __The Little Squeegy Bug__. Eleanor Roosevelt praised his book and he ended up selling one million copies. Bill Martin Jr. went on to write more than 300 children's books. He passed away on August 11, 2004.


 * Additional Links **

[|Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Song]