The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'"--which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. Lois Ehlert's chunky block illustrations show the luxuriant green palm standing straight and tall on the first page, but it begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath. A very simple board-book version stops there, but this original text goes on to introduce the helping hands of the 26 uppercase "mamas and papas and uncles and aunts." (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom FROM OUR EDITORS "A told B, / and B told C, / I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree." Rascally A entices the whole alphabet up the tree, but the tree cannot handle the weight. All the lowercase letters come crashing to the ground, "Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!" Uppercase letters rush in to comfort the little ones, and all is well-for a while-in this irresistible alphabet book. Ehlert's bright, graphic illustrations join the jazzy foot-tapping rhyme. Watch out for that imp, A! ANNOTATION An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.
FROM THE PUBLISHER A told B, and B told C, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no — Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! The well-known authors of Barn Dance and Knots on a Counting Rope have created a rhythmic alphabet chant that rolls along on waves of fun. Lois Elhert's rainbow of bright, bold, and cheerful colors makes the merry parade of letters unforgettable.
FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly 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. (Oct.)
Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman Are you bored with the classic ABC song that ends " Now I know my ABC's, won't you sing them back to me"? Then try this jazzy song with a tropical beat. "A told B, and B told C, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.'" "Whee!" asid D to EFG, "Ill beat you to the top of the coconut tree." The race is on and the big question is "Chica chica boom boom, will there be enough room?" What a grand way to start a wintry day.
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