Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault’s rhythmic chant and Lois Ehlert’s exuberant collage illustrations have made Chicka Chicka Boom Boom a read-aloud favorite for twenty years.

To celebrate, here is a special anniversary edition of this quintessential picture book with these exciting new features including completely restored artwork, twenty years of Chicka historical note and a Happy Birthday, Chicka! poster on the inside jacket that will surely delight old and new generations of Chicka Chicka fans alike!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