I may have been taken in by marketing.
Perhaps I should explain. Like any sensible person, I love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. That book, technically, is an alphabet book, but really, it is an explosion of creativity and oral storytelling. It came out in 1989, and several versions, visions, and spin-offs have come out since: there are audio and video adaptations, of course, but also a video game, an album of related music, and so on. Some of the adaptations aren’t for me (I don’t need to hear the album again, though the core song is fun), but the story itself, of letter-based chaos and rhyme, with vivid colors, is always great.
So, when I saw Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat at my library, I thought, essentially, oh cool, the folks who created Chicka Chicka Boom Boom wrote another book in the series, I should read this.
It wasn’t until I got it home that I saw the small print at the bottom that said it was “Based on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault.” And noticed that this book was created by Julien Chung.
Hmm. I was suspicious…but I read on, and I have to admit, Julien Chung definitely captured the spirit of the first book. This story also rhymes, and also features lively letters getting into impossible trouble. This time, as the title suggests, it is Halloween-based, so we get letters dressed as ghosts, letters wearing fake noses and ears, and other lovely impossibilities.
Design is central to the first book’s impact: the stark color contrasts, the bold lines, and where the letters get to. I’m pleased to say that’s all here: crisp contrast, odd little innovations (what are S’s ears meant to be?), and scenes that fill and overfill the pages.
This wasn’t quite as engaging as the first book, but it is a fun and faithful follow-up.
