Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt - Danger Gnomes (S2E8)
The mayor's mechanical gardening gnomes are burning coal — and spewing smoke everywhere. Can the Fix-It Force find a clean energy source to fuel them?
| Runtime (min) | 14 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2020-07-01 |
| Genres | Animation, Kids |
| TV Rating | TV-Y |
| Network(s) | Netflix |
Storyline
When the mayor's new mechanical gardening gnomes begin working in the town gardens, they quickly create a serious problem: the coal-powered machines spew thick black smoke everywhere they go. The pollution spreads throughout the community, making it difficult for residents to breathe and enjoy their outdoor spaces. Chico Bon Bon and the Fix-It Force are called in to solve the environmental crisis before the smoke becomes overwhelming.
The team must figure out how to keep the helpful gnomes running without relying on dirty coal. They explore alternative energy sources that can power the mechanical gardeners cleanly and efficiently. Through problem-solving and creative engineering, Chico and his friends work to retrofit the gnomes with a sustainable power solution that allows them to continue their gardening duties without harming the environment. The episode demonstrates how technology can be adapted to be both useful and environmentally responsible.
What kids learn
This episode introduces young viewers to the concept of clean energy versus fossil fuels in an age-appropriate, concrete way. Children see firsthand how burning coal creates visible pollution that affects everyone in the community, making the abstract idea of environmental impact tangible and understandable. The story demonstrates that technology itself isn't bad, but the energy source powering it matters greatly for the health of people and the planet.
The Fix-It Force models collaborative problem-solving as they work together to find an alternative energy solution. Children learn that when something causes harm, the answer isn't necessarily to stop using it entirely but to find a better way to make it work. This teaches adaptability and innovation rather than simply abandoning useful tools.
The episode also reinforces that individual actions and choices about energy use have community-wide consequences. By showing the mayor's gnomes affecting everyone's air quality, children begin to understand environmental responsibility and how switching to cleaner energy sources benefits the common good. The practical engineering solution demonstrates that caring for the environment and solving problems can go hand in hand.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How can I explain the difference between coal and clean energy to my young child? | Use the visual example from the episode as a starting point. Explain that coal makes black smoke when it burns, which makes it hard to breathe, while clean energy sources like solar or wind power don't create that smoke. You can compare it to the difference between a smoky campfire and a flashlight—both give us what we need, but one is cleaner. Keep the explanation concrete and tied to what they can see and experience. |
| Is this episode too preachy about environmental issues for preschoolers? | The episode presents the environmental problem as a practical engineering challenge rather than a moral lecture. The focus remains on problem-solving and finding solutions, which is consistent with the show's educational approach. The pollution is shown as a fixable problem, not a source of guilt or fear, making it appropriate for young children who benefit from understanding cause and effect without feeling overwhelmed by global issues. |
| What engineering concepts does my child learn from this episode? | Children are introduced to the idea that machines need power sources and that different power sources have different effects. They see the process of retrofitting existing technology to work better, which teaches that solutions often involve improving what we already have rather than starting from scratch. The episode demonstrates systematic problem-solving: identifying the issue, exploring alternatives, and implementing a solution that meets multiple needs. |
| Will this episode make my child worried about pollution or climate change? | The episode keeps the problem local and immediately solvable, which prevents the overwhelming anxiety that can come from discussing larger environmental issues. The smoke is a visible, contained problem that the Fix-It Force resolves within the episode, giving children a sense of empowerment rather than helplessness. The positive resolution reinforces that environmental problems can be fixed through creativity and teamwork. |
| How does this episode connect to the show's overall educational goals? | Like other episodes, this one uses a specific problem to teach STEM concepts and collaborative problem-solving. The environmental angle adds a real-world application to the engineering lessons, showing children that the tools and thinking skills they're learning have practical importance. It maintains the show's focus on using observation, creativity, and teamwork to fix things while introducing the additional dimension of considering environmental impact in design choices. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | It's time for Blunderburg's annual Underwear Parade — but the mayor's royal undies won't stay up! Can the Fix-It Force restore their elasticity? |
| 1 | 2 | Famous piano man Elkin John is performing a concert high atop Blunderburg Tower. There's just one problem: His instrument won't fit in the elevator. |
| 1 | 3 | Bridge-eating beetles are keeping pizza delivery man Mr. McFluster from getting his pie across the canyon to a hungry customer. Can air pressure help? |
| 1 | 4 | The high-tech refrigerator that the Fix-It Force built for their neighbor transforms when she pushes the wrong button. Now it's a robot on the loose! |
| 1 | 5 | Captain Squirrelbeard is delivering a cupcake to his sea monster friend when his ship gets stuck on dry land. Can Chico's crew get him moving again? |
| 1 | 6 | While the Fix-It Force is babysitting Elkin John's dog, Bernie, the puppy wriggles out of his leash and disappears! Now the friends need to find him. |
| 1 | 7 | The Pizzarito is the hottest new snack in Blunderburg, but the Lemurettis can't make them fast enough. Time to engineer a solution — with automation! |
| 1 | 8 | Neil and Nell Ostrich are having a baby! But can the Fix-It Force come up with a way to get the egg to the hospital before it hatches? |
| 1 | 9 | Rainbow Thunder is facing off against Stormcloud Lightning to see who the best pancake flipper is. But to win, she'll need the ultimate spatula. |
| 1 | 10 | Thanks to a cold, Clark can't go to Blunderburg Station to watch the Choo-Choo Express roll in. Can his friends find a way to bring the train to him? |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | In the wake of a massive burp-quake, the Fix-It Force uses a super-sticky glue to repair broken things all over town. But it works a little too well! |
| 2 | 2 | Mayor Murphy made a sandwich so special that she locked it away ... and lost the key. Can Chico's crew use pattern logic to crack the code? |
| 2 | 3 | The Fix-It Force works together to get Mrs. Coleslaw's toaster out of a deep hole using springy energy — and pinball wizardry. |
| 2 | 4 | Herb the Hermit Crab is extra crabby because his morning cup of cocoa is cold. But what's the best way to heat it back up again? |
| 2 | 5 | Garden Gobblers are eating up all of the mayor's carrots, and soon there won't be any more left! Can the power of suction save the day? |
| 2 | 6 | Mrs. Coleslaw calls Chico and his crew to her house, where a talking rug is the first clue in a major mechanical mystery. Time to solve it! |
| 2 | 7 | The team builds a Super Sock Sorting Machine to tame a mountain of missing socks and return the lost items to their rightful owners. |
| 2 | 8 | The mayor's mechanical gardening gnomes are burning coal — and spewing smoke everywhere. Can the Fix-It Force find a clean energy source to fuel them? |
| 2 | 9 | When a mysterious "Night Tear-er" wreaks havoc in Blunderburg, Mrs. Coleslaw tags along to help Team Chico track down the culprit. |
| 2 | 10 | The Lemurettis' restaurant is on top of Mount Parmesan, making it im-pasta-ble for any customers to get up there. But everyone's hungry for a solution! |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | When Mrs. Coleslaw and other Blunderfolk get stuck to a gigantic goo monster, Chico tries to get through the goo to save them with his special spray. |
| 3 | 2 | "Dancing with the Seals" is in town, and Mrs. Coleslaw needs the Fix-It Force to make her shoes that can grip and slip to keep up with her dance moves. |
| 3 | 3 | When she’s piñata wrestling, Tiny becomes the invincible Macho Mouse! But can the Fix-It Force help her in a match against the durable Piñata of Doom? |
| 3 | 4 | Captain Squirrelbeard’s loud treasure gong is keeping everyone awake, sending the Fix-It Force on a search for ways to soundproof the town. |
| 3 | 5 | To help Clark win the Elephant Ninja Warrior Race, the Fix-It Force engineers a pendulum to swing him through a too-tall wall at the finish line. |
| 3 | 6 | The Fix-It Force is stranded in the middle of a desert, miles from home, with no food or water. Building a glider is the best bet back to Blunderburg! |
| 3 | 7 | Rainbow’s nephew Ricky Pig is pretty stinky since he refuses to take baths, so Chico's crew designs the ultimate stunt course to finally get him clean. |
| 3 | 8 | Blunderburg’s new fix-it robot is causing problems instead of solving them! Can Chico's team step in to stop the bot from making more of a mess in town? |
| 3 | 9 | Mount Fudgey is about to erupt chocolate pudding everywhere unless the Fix-It Force can create a pipe system to funnel the flow and avoid disaster! |
| 3 | 10 | The Yum Yums from Planet Zum Zum love toast, so Chico and friends teach these aliens how to make it before they blast off with the town’s total supply. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | The Fix-It Force must find a monster-sized serving of ice cream before a giant creature destroys Blunderburg seeking all the scoops she can get. |
| 4 | 2 | A swarm of tree-gobbling beetles threatens Blunderburg! But Chico and friends realize their favorite pastime, Sprinkle Ball, just might save them all. |
| 4 | 3 | Chico always aces his tool belt test. Will the chain reaction of accidents all around him break his concentration — and his winning streak? |
| 4 | 4 | Skateboarders will make a mess of City Hall before Mr. McFluster’s once-a-year inspection — unless Chico's crew can build a park with a radical ramp. |
| 4 | 5 | No street cart is safe when Mrs. Coleslaw blindly slips into the driver’s seat of Tool Force One. Only Chico's makeshift parachute can slow her down! |
| 4 | 6 | Book-loving burglars are nabbing anything they can read in the treehouse. Can the Fix-It Force re-engineer a device to track them down? |
| 4 | 7 | They’ve lost all power in Blunderburg Tower! Without a battery with a big-enough charge, Chico and Co. need to find a new way to generate electricity. |
| 4 | 8 | Popsicles are the perfect treat to beat the heat. But used sticks littered around town are causing problems, so Chico must find ways to repurpose them. |
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