Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Silly School Mystery

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.