I hope that my four star rating of this book is accurate, because I read it to kids that I'm not sure it's meant for. Chicky Chicky Chook Chook is certainly well below my niece's reading level, but she was pulled into the story. My nephew is really more into Spider-man than fluffy baby chicks, but he was also pulled into the story. Why?
This book was all about the sound of language, and about how words can be strung together to form really musical, rhythmic sentences. Our voices can create music without us ever having to sing a note (which, in my case, is a very good thing). I think that my niece and nephew responded to the sound of this book. I like it when books try to do more than just tell a story--I like it when they teach kids about language, and when they inspire creativity.
My niece and nephew can still be captivated by the sound of language, but as I read this book I was really wondering how babies who are just experimenting with the sounds that come out of their own mouths would respond to this book. I'm torn between thinking that babies might find all of these sounds so interesting, and thinking that this book might only end up covered in baby drool. Honestly, it's a toss up.