Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 is the title of a children's picture book written by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, and illustrated by Lois Ehlert in 2004. It was published by Simon & Schuster. It is a sequel to 1989's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Plot

Anthropomorphic numbers from 1 to 20 consecutively, then 30 to 90 by tens, and finally 99, climb up an apple tree. While watching them climb, the number 0 tries to find a place available for him in the tree.
However, 0 soon realizes there is no more room left for him, until a colony of bumblebees make everyone in the tree fall out, counting backwards. While this happens, a few of the numbers are revealed to have suffered certain injuries from the fall.
The number 0 finally finds his place in the tree and goes to the top, joining with 10 and forming the large number 100 to scare the bees away. Then all the other numbers return and climb back up the apple tree, cheering for 10 and 0's bravery.

Development

The publisher, Simon & Schuster, originally asked Bill Martin, Jr. to write a sequel to his book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. But when he and co-author Michael Sampson turned the manuscript in, it was rejected. That manuscript was published by Henry Holt as the title Rock It, Sock It, Number Line. Five years later, Martin and Sampson wrote a second counting book, and it became ''Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3.''

Reception

The book quickly became a best-seller, and is used by teachers throughout the United States to teach counting and place value to young children.

Awards

The book has won numerous awards from a variety of publications, libraries, and parenting groups, including Best Book of 2004 by Parenting Magazine.

Adaptations

At the same year when the book was published, Weston Woods Studios made an animated musical short film adaptation of the story. As with the original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom cartoon, its music was composed and performed by Crystal Taliefero.