Concept Books 2

Martin, B (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks

ISBN # 978-0-689-83568-1

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a catchy rhyming story that teaches children the alphabet.  It begins with ‘a’ telling ‘b’ and ‘c’ that they will meet at the top of the coconut tree.  The whole alphabet follows until the tree gets so heavy that they all fall out.  Their parents and family members come to help them and take them home, which seems to be the end of the story but it isn’t.  Later that night ‘a’ challenges the other letters saying that he will beat the up the coconut tree.

At the ages of 3-5, children are either just starting to learn the alphabet or trying to remember the order.  This book has a lot of repetition and after hearing the first few lines the children will begin to catch on. 

I really like the illustrations because they so simple yet you know exactly what is happening.  The only pictures on all the pages are of the coconut tree and the letters but the colors used really grabbed my attention.  Also the images are so big that the children will be able to clearly see what is happening. 

Before reading the story I would do some activities revolving around the alphabet.  I would ask the children if they could sing the alphabet or if they knew what letters were in their names.  To get the children interested I would set out some games or activities that had letters involved.  Like some puzzles or building blocks that the children need to manipulate to find the correct order they go in to.

3 ways:

-Ask the children to help with the reading.  When I get to a letter I would stop and point at it and ask the children if they knew what letter it was.

-I would present it on a felt board and have the children help bring up the letters.  Before I read the story I would give each child a felt letter that he/she could bring up and add to the board.  When the child hears their letter in the story, I would be their turn to help out.

-Get the children to act out what each letter is doing or the sounds it is making in the story

3 Extensions

-  Have the class make their own alphabet tree.  Have some children draw the letters and color them and have others make the coconut tree and all the coconuts.  Then they can put it up in their classroom and can use this as a way to practice the alphabet.

-  Lay out letter cut outs on a table or felt board and get the children to close their eyes.  Take a letter away and then ask the children to open their eyes.  Ask the children if they know which letter is missing.

-  Make our own individual trees using celery as the tree trunk, peanut butter or cheese whiz inside and some alphabets cereal as the letters climbing the tree and some raisins as the coconuts

Wells, R. (2006). Max’s ABC. London: Penguin Books Ltd.

ISBN: 0-670-06074-7

This book is about learning the alphabet as well as some words that start with the letters.  Max has ants that escape from their ant farm and go after his birthday cake.  Trying to get rid of them he pours cranberry juice down his pants. 

I chose this book because it is a fun way to learn the alphabet.  With most alphabet books the letter is on a page and then there are pictures of objects that start with the letter.  What is different about this is that there is a continuous story line. 

The illustrations are drawn and colored with dull colors, not super bright and don’t catch your eye.  Each letter is clearly placed on each page and in a good size so children can see.  What caught my attention with this book is that I recognized the characters right away from a children’s show called “Max and Ruby” and I know that most children will also notice this as well.

If I was going to be reading this story at circle, I would ask the children to go find a toy or an object that they wanted to bring to circle with them and ask them if they knew what letter it started with.  Then as I was reading the story I would incorporate their item.

3 Ways

-  Choose some children to help act out. 

-  Use props that start with each letter.  That way the children can see a real object and might get a better idea of what that letter really is or what sound it makes 

-       Have cut out felt images each starting with a different letter 

I would chunk the book after every page or every other page and ask the children if they knew any other words that started with that letter

3 Extensions:

-  The children can take a page and make a coloring page.  The could choose any letter they want and draw it for themselves and then color, paint or decorate it how they would like to.

-  Talk about why the ants are so interested in Max’s birthday cake.  This discussion can lead to going outside and finding ants and watching to see what they eat.

-  Sing “The Ants Go Marching”

Sayre, A.P, Sayre J. (2003) One Is a Snail Ten Is a Crab.  Massachusetts: Candlewick Press

ISBN: 0-7636-1406-8

This is a counting by feet book.  By using familiar animals/ insects the author compares the number of feet that each has and also bring in some math when putting two different living things together.  For example “9 is a spider and a snail.”

This book would be great with 3-5’s because the characters used are ones they should know or have an idea of what they are.  Also the pictures are not to busy so you can see everything that is going on

All the illustrations were done in oil paint on the paper.  The colors are not too bright but not boring either.  What caught my eye was the contrast between most of the colors.

I would put different stuffed animals or plastic toys out that had various numbers of legs.  Ask the children if they know of any creatures that have 6 legs or 8 legs ect. 

3 Ways:

-  Using a felt board.  Have all the main characters made/bought in felt and put them up when you say them in the book

-  Make masks so the children can pretend to be the characters

-  Stop and wonder with the children about what other animals have a certain number of legs

3 Extensions:

-  Ask the children to count their fingers and toes and see how many they have as a whole class

-  Go on a walk and see what animals you can find and count their legs

           

-  Five little monkeys jumping 

on the bed

One fell off and bumped 

his head

Mama called the doctor and 

the doctor Said,

"No more monkeys 

jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys jumping  
on the bed, three little monkeys jumping on the bed, (and so on).