Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3
By Bill Martin Jr.
The Story
The numbers 1 through 100 race each other up an apple tree in a rhyming chant, piling higher and higher until bumblebees threaten trouble at the top.
Why It's Special
For the kid who counts everything in sight — stairs, cars, cookies — this turns numbers into a rowdy climbing race worth cheering for.
- Big idea: Counting can be an adventure, not just a chore — every number gets a turn to matter.
- Vibes: Bouncy, rhythmic, and a little chaotic, like a countdown that keeps going up instead of down.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love counting and number recognition
- enjoy rhyming chants with a beat
- like to chime in with numbers as they climb
- respond well to bold, colorful cut-paper artwork
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & counting: Can you count along as the numbers climb from 1 to 100 up the apple tree?
- Prediction: What do you think will happen when the bumblebees show up?
- Imagination: If you were a number racing up the tree, which one would you want to be?
- Art & illustration: What do you notice about how Lois Ehlert made the numbers and the tree look?
- Real-life connection: What's the highest you've ever counted, and what were you counting?
