Book Review: 'Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat' by Julien Chung

Book review by Patch Contributor and retired first grade teacher Nancy Sasso Janis

Teachers and parents of kindergarten and first grade students have a new picture book to add to their collection of Halloween read alouds that is based on a classic alphabet book. “Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat” is based on the beloved “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault that was joyfully written by Julien Chung.

The publisher's summary is “On Halloween, letters climb a creaky tree in disguise, but then they are startled by a spooky surprise.”

The coconut tree has become a deciduous old tree in the process of shedding its leaves, but the lower case alphabet letters still play a prominent role in this rhyming story. Young readers will delight in identifying the letters as they make their entrances in alphabetical order. Don’t miss the spider webs between the old branches and the jack-o-lanterns that have made a home beneath the tree.

Perhaps the most fun is watching the Halloween costumes and props that are adopted by the colorful alphabet letters in the two acts of the book. Rest assured that the text and illustrations never veer into scariness and there is a celebratory ending.

The rhythm of the writing takes a bit of getting used to, probably because the original phrases are so ingrained in the mind of the adult reader. A slower reading speed will benefit both the reader and the listener, especially on the first read through. Thankfully, Chung has judiciously retained the familiar “Chicka Chicka” refrain.

Sharing the original version with young learners will help them to appreciate this new version, although it could also work as a stand alone. There are some vocabulary words in this version that could be defined for young learners. After reading both, teachers could easily lead a lesson that compares and contrasts the two books. Be sure to have the students notice the endpages at the back of the new book for a holiday surprise.

The high-quality hardcover version of this companion to “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” is published by Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. It is securely bound and printed on 40 sturdy coated pages that will withstand multiple page turns. The illustrations for this book were rendered digitally and therefore retain the look of the original artwork but with a spooky twist.

Julien Chung has been a professional designer and illustrator for over twenty-five years. He is the illustrator of picture books such as “Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho,” and “Chicka Chicka Peep Peep.”

The publisher recommends this book for grades: P - 3 and ages: 4 - 8. The 8.5 by 10.6 inch size and strong contrast of colors makes for a great read aloud. ISBN-13: 9781665988827

The Seymour Public Library has a copy of this book in the Holiday JP section of the children’s department.