The Mom I Want to Be

Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), John Archambault (Author), Lois Ehlert (Illustrator).  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.

 

Questions to promote discussion:

 

 

Art: First, I painted the trunk of the tree. Next, the fun begins when you start painting little toes. Warning: giggling will occur, this is normal:) Stamp your child’s foot on the paper to create the top of the tree. After you clean off your child’s foot, make a few coconuts with their thumbprint. Last, glue on a few letters and you have a “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” coconut tree.

 

 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Printables

 

In the Kitchen:  Make coconut trees from celery stalks (with leaves), peanut butter and Alpha-Bits Cereal.  Or bake coconut tree cookies with a palm tree cookie cutter.  Frost and add halved malted milk balls for coconuts and alpha-bits.