Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) [Hardcover]

Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Michael Sampson (Author), Lois Ehlert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

1 told 2

and 2 told 3,

"I'll race you to the top

of the apple tree."

One hundred and one numbers climb the apple tree in this bright, rollicking, joyous book for young children. As the numerals pile up and bumblebees threaten, what's the number that saves the day? (Hint: It rhymes with "hero.") Read and count and play and laugh to learn the surprising answer.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–A counting-book companion to Martin and Ehlert's Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom (S & S, 1989). The cut-paper art is almost identical to the earlier work, right down to the use of vibrant splashes of color. The layout will also be familiar to that title's many fans. At the center of the story this time, however, is an apple tree. Numerals race to the top with 1, 2, and 3 leading the way. Next come 4, 5, and 6 climbing right behind, but "Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3… Will there be a place for me?" asks 0. Page after page, the numbers climb ("Hot pink 12, lucky 13, picking apples, red and green") and they all forget 0 down in the lower right-hand corner. They keep going "until at last there's 99, and all the numbers are feeling fine." Except for 0, that is, who begins to cry once again, "Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3… Will there be a place for me?" And, at precisely that moment, a swarm of bumblebees arrives shouting, "GET OUT OF OUR TREE…." Alas, the counting begins anew, this time backward. And 0, no bad apple, finally discovers his life's calling and rightful place: at the very top of the tree next to 10, who stayed there all along, becoming… 100. This story is a perfect selection for 100th day or Zero the Hero celebrations. A deliciously sweet selection, and a nifty counting book to boot.–Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. Since its first publication in 1989, Martin and Ehlert's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has delighted preschoolers with its rhyme about an irresistibly rowdy alphabet that scales a tree. Tree-climbing numbers replace letters in this follow-up, which is as visually exciting as the earlier book. Ehlert's cut-paper collages retain the previous title's tropical hues and solid, playful shapes, but the conceptual exercise is more challenging than in the first book, which simply ran, letter by letter, up and down the alphabet. Here the numbers ascend by ones up to 20, after which they switch to intervals of tens (30, 40, 50) until they reach 90, which is followed not by 100, but by 99. Zero follows 99, accompanied by text that may confuse children: "0 lands on top / of the tree, / joins with 10. / Now 100 you see!" Adults will probably need to explain the math; the bright endpapers that count by ones to 100 will help. Despite the tricky concepts, though, the chanting rhyme and eye-popping images have a contagious energy youngsters will find irresistible. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; First Edition edition (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689858817
• ISBN-13: 978-0689858819
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Math

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicka, Chicka -One-derful!, June 29, 2004

By 

Carol Vyhanek (DesPlaines, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) (Hardcover)

Every kindergarten teacher must have this book! We will all need a chicka, chicka apple tree in our classrooms (to accompany our Chicka, Chicka coconut trees.) In the same style as Chicka, Chicka Boom, Boom, this book features the numbers climbing an apple tree. 1-20 climb, and then counting by 10's until 100 is at the top of the apple tree! Enjoy sharing this with your class!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a KID'S book., April 30, 2005

By 

C. B. Mayr "book devotee" (Rochester, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) (Hardcover)

My nine-year old daughter has always maintained that Chicka Chicka Boom Boom was her favorite book. We own it, but she still checks it out from the library. When she found out there was a 'sequel'--Chicka Chicka 123, I went ahead and ordered it despite some of the less than glowing reviews. I'm very glad I did. My daughter said that she likes it even better than Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Now to address some other issues that have been brought up.....other reviewers have asked why zero is the hero? It is simple. Throughout the whole book zero is shy and wonders if he will fit in and where he will fit in. At the end, he realizes that there is a place for him. He ends up having courage, self-esteem and a sense of belonging. What kid (or adult for that matter)hasn't dealt with those feelings? Combine that with the fact that zero rhymes with hero and you have a kid's book made in heaven. In the end, it's the kids opinions that matter....and my daughter loves it. Besides, most of what Dr.Seuss wrote made no sense at all and those books are all classics now.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Better than Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom!, May 31, 2006

By 

Book Dad "Book loving Father" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) (Hardcover)

My first-grader loves this book! He had read Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom in kindergarten, so it was nice to find a book one step up in sophistication, which Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3 is.

The sequel has a more developed plot and has a lovely and sad repeating line.. Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3, wil there be a place for me? from little zero.

But in the end, zero is the hero as he saves the day from the "Buzzing close, bumble bees!" Then a valuable math lesson is taught, as children learn elemenatary place value-- 0 with 10 becomes 100 and completes the number climb to the top of the beautiful apple tree!

This book is destined to become a classic...