CHICKA CHICKA I LOVE YOU
From the Chicka Chicka Book series
by Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault ; illustrated by Julien Chung
The letters of the alphabet celebrate love.
In the tradition of Martin and Archambault’s 1989 classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, the book features letters spelling out love-related words like hug and adore. The letters pile into a flowering tree and, with a “chicka chicka / BA-BOOM! BA-BOOM!” (like the pounding of a heart), they topple back out. The text is made up of rhyming couplets that don’t always flow smoothly, making for a potentially awkward read-aloud. Chung’s illustrations hammer home the love theme, thanks to heart-filled borders and the heavy use of pinks and reds. The tree itself is topped with spring-colored leaves, flowers, and hearts. Bees buzz across the pages, delivering letters or carrying symbols of love. The styling very much mirrors Lois Ehlert’s in the original book, serving mostly as a love-filled translation. The images are sweet enough, and the text is warm and loving, if a bit on the dull side, but it’s mostly a reworking of the source material that doesn’t breathe new life into it. Those seeking a fresh take may be disappointed, but caregivers or educators seeking options for Valentine’s Day will find it pleasant enough.
A cute, if less than original, repackaging of a beloved ABC title for those who can’t get enough of all things love.
(Picture book. 2-4)