Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins

By Chris Monroe

Inspiration for the Netflix series Chico Bon Bon!

Clark's baking project is not going as planned. Now gigantic maniac muffins are on the loose! To stop them, Chico Bon Bon needs a plan . . . and his tool belt, of course. With the right tools and some quick thinking, this crumbly disaster might just have a tasty solution!

"Monroe's imaginative illustrations play with composition as well as perspective, offering detail-minded readers endless surprises. . . . A winner."—Kirkus Reviews for Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem

Don't miss Chico Bon Bon's other adventures!
Monkey with a Tool Belt
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Seaside Shenanigans

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Sep 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512418668

Chris Monroe

Chris Monroe is an award-winning author, illustrator and cartoonist. Her picture books include Sneaky Sheep, Bug On a Bike and the Monkey With a Tool Belt series, which inspired the Netflix show Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt. Chris is also the author and illustrator of the comic strip Violet Days, which has been in print for more than 20 years. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

Book preview

Reviews for Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins

[thatonelibrarian · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins is pretty standard picture book fare. Those already familiar with the handy little monkey will know that he's always ready for any mess the author can throw at him. This time, his tool belt is filled with gear for a day in the kitchen with his friends, preparing for a party. Things quickly go awry when Elephant puts a wee bit too much baking soda in the muffins and they blast out the oven and down main street. Of course Monkey is able to save the day and the party goes off without a hitch. The book itself is in the same vein as the other three tool-belt adventures, if a little more contrived. The illustrations are still detailed and comical, providing much for observation, but a page of rhyming text seems awkward and out of place. Ultimately Maniac Muffins is underwhelming. Diehard fans of the series will probably enjoy this next book, but it is unlikely to win over any new fans.

[einin-2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins is pretty standard picture book fare. Those already familiar with the handy little monkey will know that he's always ready for any mess the author can throw at him. This time, his tool belt is filled with gear for a day in the kitchen with his friends, preparing for a party. Things quickly go awry when Elephant puts a wee bit too much baking soda in the muffins and they blast out the oven and down main street. Of course Monkey is able to save the day and the party goes off without a hitch. The book itself is in the same vein as the other three tool-belt adventures, if a little more contrived. The illustrations are still detailed and comical, providing much for observation, but a page of rhyming text seems awkward and out of place. Ultimately Maniac Muffins is underwhelming. Diehard fans of the series will probably enjoy this next book, but it is unlikely to win over any new fans.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chico Bon Bon is a monkey with a tool belt. He can build all sorts of things and loves to fix things too. When his friend Clark the elephant bakes to get ready for a party for his uncle, he makes a mess and has problems. Chico has a plan and of course it involves his tool belt and his problem solving skills. The party is a success thanks to Chico Bon Bon.

This series is made up of smart picture books, celebrating intelligence and ingenuity. The text is fun to read with its rhyming lines and great pacing. The pictures complete the book perfectly. They are quirky, funny and just like the text do not talk down to the child audience. What a treat!

Highly recommended especially for tool-loving girls and boys. Appropriate for ages 4-7. This series would be great for Kindergarten classrooms as well as school, public and family libraries.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Chico Bon-Bon had never seen a pancake do so much damage....

Chris Monroe wins at the best first liners for picture books. She just wins. I'm delighted at further Chico Bon-Bon adventures, and the little muffin faces are hi-larious.