I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS-“Robot Parade” (2002).

They Might be Giants first children’s album, No! featured a ton of great songs.  TMBG were practically writing for kids anyhow, so they just removed some of their songs of love and death and replaced them with songs of pre-teen angst.  The title song “No!” is a wonderful look at life as a child.  But there is something so wonderfully absurd (but possibly not for kids) about “Robot Parade.”

It starts out with a funky distorted keyboard.  Which gives way to a slinky keyboard melody.

The lyrics are so simple and so joyful (despite the robotic singing style):  “In a future time/Children will work together/To build a giant cyborg.  Robot Parade, Robot Parade…robots obey what the children say”  To me this song exemplifies the childish fantasies that TMBG can present.  And even though the song is less than 90 seconds long and it doesn’t do a whole lot (listening to it again now, I was sure there was more to it), it has left a wonderful impression on me. 

And I’m sure that my children, who love putting pots on their heads and saying “I am a Robot” will one day be singing, “Robots obey what the children say.”

[READ: December 2011] Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem

I picked up this book on a whim when I saw the title at the library.  I mean, who wouldn’t love a monkey with a tool belt?  The art is weirdly wonderful, but it’s the story itself that was so intriguing.

First off, the monkey, the one with the tool belt, has the best name in all of children’s picture bookdom: Chico Bon Bon.  How great is that?  So great I must say it again.  Chico Bon Bon.

The real selling point (literally selling point, because I bought this for my kids for Christmas) is that there’s an elephant in the book named Clark (if you haven’t been paying attention, my son’s name is Clark.  And you NEVER see his name in anything).  So how cool to have it as a character in a book series?  And Clark’s initial appearance is awesome!

But so, if you don’t know anyone named Clark (or Chico Bon Bon) why should you read it?

The story opens with Chico hearing the crazy sound AROOGA BOOM CLANG CLANG.  He gets up and, since he always has his tool belt, we get to see what he’s got on it today:

chopper, chipper, bopper bipper, nail finder, candy finder, razzler, frazzler, twizzler, de-twizzler and hook-on-a-stick [that’s just a partial list].

He looks around his house (check out what is hear-a-lot tool is)–and what a (tree)house it is!  My kids are so envious of Chico’s house (two telescopes, a pool, a six level bunk bed and so much more).

I won’t tell you where he finds the noise or what it is because that’s an awesome surprise.  But in another great two page spread, we see, in 12 steps what Chico does to fix the problem.  [What I liked but only found out later is that a joke in Book One is used here.  Nice touch]. 

It’s a funny book, especially with all the details.  And, obviously, Chris Monroe is awesome with names.

I’m going to note here that after reading this book we went back and read the first book.  I didn’t enjoy it as much.  I’m not sure if it couldn’t possibly live up to book two or what.  It was fine, it just didn’t blow me away. 

Now I can only hope that Monroe adds a character named Tabitha so both of my kids will have animals who are friends with Chico Bon Bon!