Boom Chicka Boom
What’s inside...
From one of Ireland's best-known storytellers, this collection features both new and old stories, filled with magic and drama. It includes tales of a boy snatched by fairies, spooky elements like a 'long bony finger', and playful verses like the Boom-Chicka-Boom rhyme. The collection is also available as a nine-track CD, which consists of stories like Going to Granny's, The Rabbit's Tale, and The Rathlin Fairy Tale, among others.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
80 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the chick made such loud noises? What do you think it wanted to communicate?
How did the other animals react to the chick's sounds? Have you ever reacted similarly to a loud noise?
If you were in this story, which animal would you be and why?
What do you think is the importance of paying attention to the noises around us?
How do you think the story would change if the chick couldn’t make any noise?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express themselves by mimicking the sounds from the book, fostering a deeper connection to the story.
Discuss personal experiences where a loud noise affected them or caught their attention, linking real-life events to the story's themes.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings or different reactions from the animals, enhancing their creative thinking.
Highlight the importance of listening and reacting to noises in our environment, tying it back to the safety and communication themes in the book.
Use the discussion to delve into the concept of communication and its various forms, encouraging your child to explore how they express themselves.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Boom Chicka Boom,' characters work together to create a rhythmic musical performance, illustrating the value of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children learn to cooperate with peers during group activities at school or in sports, fostering a sense of community and shared achievement.
Example Lesson: Embracing diversity
Explanation: The book showcases a variety of animals with different skills contributing to the song, teaching children to appreciate individual differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand and value the diverse abilities and backgrounds of their classmates and friends, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Creative expression
Explanation: The narrative encourages using one's voice and talents in a creative way, as the characters use their unique sounds to make music.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to explore and express their own creativity, whether in art, music, or creative writing at school.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: Characters in the book practice and improve their musical abilities, demonstrating the importance of perseverance.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of practicing skills, whether academic or extracurricular, to achieve success.
Example Lesson: Joy of reading and rhythm
Explanation: The rhythmic pattern of the text makes reading aloud a fun activity, highlighting the pleasure of engaging with literature.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to enjoy reading and can improve their phonological awareness, an important skill for early literacy development.