Chico Bon-Bon is a Funny Name! 

As teachers, we want to fill our students' lives with rich literature. Sometimes I cringe when I see a student choose the "new, fun" book over a treasured favorite, but then I remember that student choice is so important in creating lifelong readers. Monkey with a Toolbelt by Chris Monroe isn't the richest picture book, but it is FUN. Kids love it, AND the main character is creative and a problem-solver, which is always a big plus!

My precious Godmother, Nancy, gave me this book a few years ago. The author, Chris Monroe, is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist in my hometown of Duluth, MN. Monroe has a creative, detail-filled book about Chico Bon-Bon, a monkey who has a toolbelt filled with dozens of tools. He uses those tools (some of which have incredibly funny names) to help his friends. He builds a tiny roller coaster for squirrels, and the clock he makes for the chickens (or the "clucks" in the story) shows two times: Meal Time and Snack Time. Chico is definitely community-oriented. He wants to do things for others!

One day, however, he arrives at his AMAZING tree house and sees something irresistible nearby: a banana split sundae. When he tries to taste it, he discovers it is plastic. It's a trap! A box traps him and the Organ Grinder from the circus loads Chico onto his bike. Apparently, the last monkey escaped with the help of some of the other circus animals. That monkey is shown surfing on the beach, living his best life. One thing that I love about this book is that it shows Chico using his creativity and his tools (because, of course, he had his toolbelt with him) to create a plan to escape. The illustrations show his 12-step plan, which is great for students because it shows how things do not just happen, you have to plan for the desired outcome. Chico's plans work! He is able to attract the Organ Grinder to the box, hit the Organ Grinder in the toe to distract him, then break out of the box, run out of the house, and catch a bus home. 

When Chico arrives at home, he is relieved! There is one final surprise, though. Chico goes up to his bedroom, puts on his pajamas, and then puts his toolbelt BACK on to go to sleep. That's so uncomfortable! But Chico goes to sleep and dreams of all of the things he'll do to help his friends tomorrow. 

Chico's story is not high art, but the illustrations paint the picture of a rich world and interesting characters. There are now multiple stories about Chico Bon-Bon As I was researching for this blog post, I discovered that a new, animated show based on the Monkey with a Toolbelt books premiering TOMORROW (May 8, 2020) on Netflix! Wow! Go Go, Chico Bon-Bon!

Posted by estauber On 07 May, 2020 at 12:37 PM  5 Comments

Comments
Arlene Brown (Guest) said On 20 March, 2024 at 3:55 PM
It gladdens my heart to be out here to say a word of thank you to Dr Isikolo. His webpage (https://isikolo-temple.com)  I never thought I would be able to see my marriage work again despite the fact that everything had already been working against me, Dr Isikolo came to my rescue. I had a problem in my home which made my husband left and I was already pregnant and it became difficult for me to cope without him in my life. His family supported me all along but no one could help reunite us back except Dr Isikolo who responded at the time I needed help the most. He got the problem fixed and my husband returned back home to me just after 48 hours because he was still living in the same city with me. It quite amazing when you find help where you least thought you can get help. Once again thank you Dr Isikolo for all you do to help people in dire need of assistance. Email him via: [email protected] or WhatsApp him on +2348133261196  
Agata Winston (Guest) said On 17 March, 2024 at 11:39 PM
After I and my husband got married, we relocated to another city and we both got jobs and started working and living together happily. We never had any problems until a colleague of his started doing all she can to get my husband’s attention. I never knew all along what was going until he started sleeping out and making excuses. Things got out of control and he eventually stopped attending to my needs. I knew at that point I needed help so I contacted Dr Isikolo and explained everything to him. He told me all that has been going and promised to fix the problems for me which he did. He cast a love reunion spell for me which reunited i and my husband and he started being the man I always loved him to be just after 48 hours Dr Isikolo worked for me. We are both happy now and it would not have been possible if not for Dr Isikolo.  Contact him if you need any help. Visit his webpage: https://isikolo-temple.com or text him on WhatsApp him on +2348133261196  
Melissa Clifford (Guest) said On 16 March, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Hi everyone my name is Melissa Clifford from Michigan, Am so overwhelmed to let the world to know about this man Dr Kuda that cure me from HPV Disease , I have been infected with HPV Viurs since 5year now, i contacted this disease through my husband before he pass away and this disease makes me feel so sad every time I look up too myself I feel that am out of this world, i only stay indoor because no one come close to me, i have been going to so many hospital for treatment they only give me some instructions to take and stop eating some food because of my health, last month i read a Testimony about this man called Dr Kuda on Youtube how he cured a lady call Samantha with he herbal medicine, the Testimony sounds good, then i contact Dr Kuda through his email [email protected] for him to help me with his powerful herbal medicine to cured my HPV Disease, Dr Kuda provide me his herbal medicine and give me a step to be taking the medicine for two weeks, after taking the herbal medicine i went for a checkup for my status, then i was surprise to been comfirmed that i have be cured totally from HPV Disease, Dr Kuda is a very good and powerful a man that God brought to restore my life back, and also know that their are a lot of people out there need to seeking for his help I will recommend Dr Kuda to everyone suffering from any type of disease. you can Contact him on Call/WHATSAPP Number +1 (346) 478-1991 Or his Website: https://drkudaspelltemple.wixsite.com/my-site-kuda   
Maria Helena (Guest) said On 14 March, 2024 at 5:42 AM
Hello, everyone's, my name is Maria Helena from the United kingdom and I want to use this opportunity to thank Dr Ughulu for helping me to cure my Herpes disease, it has been over 2 years now I had this disease I don't even know how it got throw me, i have been going to difference hospital just to make sure I get cure and nothing works out for me, until the day I saw a comment online about how someone testify how Dr Ughulu cure her herpes disease and It was so very interesting to me, I really think about it for few minutes before I sent him a message and he said you're welcome my daughter, he list out what he will buy to work for me and also he said I shouldn't worried. I will be fine, so I really did the right thing he asked me to do. It didn't take up to three weeks until I was healed from my herpes disease, I went for a checkup and the doctor told me nothing is wrong with me. Please join me to thank Dr Ughulu. I really appreciate his good work. My God will continue to bless you forever. You can visit his website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu CALL/TEXT: +1(252) 409-1841 or email:[email protected]   
Samantha Chavez (Guest) said On 16 February, 2024 at 4:57 PM
Hi everyone my name is Samantha Chavez I am here to share a little story about my life I'm 55 years old, I was suffering from a very deadly disease, I’d recently been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, and i was going through depression because every day had become a struggle for me, and I wasn’t enjoying life at all because I am suffering for over five years and couldn't find out earlier as the months and years went by, my symptoms just got worse and worse It started to develop pain in my lower back and abdomen, after visiting many different Doctor's I was eventually diagnosed with a fatty liver it become more practice Nonalcoholic steatohepatisis (Nash) and Hepatitis B become more worried, unite I was reading a news on my TV when I saw a post about Dr Kuda, how he helped alot of people to be cure their Hepatitis B, then i decided to contact him and seek for help and when Dr Kuda prepare his herbal medicine and send it to me after some days I received the herbal medicine after taking the medication for two weeks, i was confirm at the hospital Negative, and being cure from Hepatitis B, I am so grateful today berceuse of Dr Kuda Thank you for your kindness help, you can also Email: [email protected] Or Contact his Call/Text Number +1 (346) 478-1991 His Website: https://drkudaspelltemple.wixsite.com/my-site-kuda  
Leave Your Comment
Security Measure
 
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.