Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Silly School Mystery

August 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Something strange is happening at Chico Bon Bon's and Clark's school. Things have begun to disappear. When the class arrives at the library, they're shocked to see half of the books are missing. As the day progresses, the situation becomes even more bizarre. Ms. Crabtree's ruler is gone, everyone's show-and-tell pieces are ruined, and classroom items have been chewed in half. Could it be a ghost, sneaky gorillas, or has a book club gone wild? Luckily, the monkey is armed with his famous tool belt and is prepared to begin an investigation. Fortunately, he's well equipped with a magnifying glass, flashlight, two-inch book hook, protractor, and goggles (safety first). Chico discovers more evidence as he conducts a search of the entire school. He finds many things have been chewed and even more items have gone missing. The mystery becomes more intriguing when he notices an acorn on the pencil sharpener. His extensive investigation will help him discover what or who has been causing the strange events. This book is a good addition to the series. The story line is very entertaining and amusing. The paint and ink drawings are creative and include a great amount of intricate detail. Meticulous features range from the items on Chico's belt to the titles of the children's books. While some readers might find the illustrations too busy, many will agree the pictures are interesting and humorous. Alas, after the school mystery has been solved, Chico finds his tool belt helpful when cleaning up Clark's mess. VERDICT Young mystery buffs, fans of Monkey with a Tool Belt, and those who are new to the series, will enjoy this addition.-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
Chico Bon Bon is back, his tool belt is strapped on, and he's ready not only to fix anything that's broken, but to solve a puzzling mystery at school, too.On this particular school day, not everything that needs fixing is part of the mystery--Clark's backpack rips and his chair breaks, some lockers need tweaking, and a fountain is leaking, all of which Chico takes care of handily. But when the class visits the library, half the books are missing, and when they return to their classroom, Ms. Crabtree can't find her ruler, and many of his class's items for show-and-tell are nibbled. As the school day progresses, the number of items missing or chewed increases, and Chico works on finding clues and puzzling out what's happened. In the end, he manages to find a solution that suits everyone...and that uses all his tools, of course. Monroe's illustrations are as delightful to pore over as usual, with changes of perspective and lots of quirky details, especially in the scene in which the mystery is finally revealed. This is one detective/Mr. Fix It that readers will love to apprentice to. (Picture book. 4-8)

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January 1, 2018
Tool-festooned monkey Chico Bon Bon returns, this time to figure out why various supplies have gone missing from his school. Through industry and, yes, tools, Chico discovers that some squirrels have been building their own school inside the building's walls. The solution to the turf war is inspired, requires cooperation (and tools), and showcases author/illustrator Monroe's talent for detail in miniature.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)