Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 is the title of a children's picture book written by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson, and illustrated by Lois Ehlert in 2004 by Simon & Schuster. The book features anthropomorphized numbers.

Plot
The number 0 tries to climb up an apple tree while watching the numbers from 1 to 20 (including 5 wearing a top hat) in counting order, then 30 to 90 by tens (including 70 with long hair), and finally 99, climb it. As the numbers are climbing, 0 wonders if there would be a place for him. But as they all come before him, there is no room for him, until a group of bumblebees angrily claim the tree and order the numbers to get out of their tree. While counting backwards, the bumblebees fly around them and cause everyone (except 10 who is hiding) to fall out of the tree. As the number 0 now knows where he would be in the apple tree, he goes to the top of the tree and joins with 10 to make the number 100, which scares all the bees away, and all the other numbers climb up the tree again to cheer for 10 and 0's bravery.

Development
The publisher, S&S, originally asked Bill Martin, Jr. to write a sequel to his book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. But when he and co-author Michael Sampson turned the manuscript in, it was rejected. That manuscript was published by Henry Holt as the title Rock It, Sock It, Number Line. Five years later, Martin and Sampson wrote a second counting book, and it became Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3.

Reception
The book quickly became a best-seller, and is used by teachers throughout the United States to teach counting and place value to young children.

Awards
The book has won numerous awards from a variety of publications, libraries, and parenting groups, including Best Book of 2004 by Parenting Magazine.

Adaptations
Weston Woods produced an animated cartoon of the book in 2005, complete with music and song composed and performed by Crystal Taliefero.