Chicky Chicky Chook Chook  by Cathy MacLennan  (2007)

“Chicky, chicky, chook, chook.  Chick, chick chick.  Chicky, chicky, chook chook, peck…peck..pick!”  That’s how this book goes, with rhymes, alliteration, and just plain fun that make it a great phonological awareness choice.  Because the words are part nonsensical, kids have to watch the pictures to see what the animals (chickens, bees, and cats) are doing.  A lightning storm, for instance, just has the text “Crash! Bang! Wallop!” so you have to talk about the pictures, which brings in narrative skills, and the series of pictures do combine into a simple story.  Illustrations carry well in a group too.

- Steven Engelfried