Looking for Bongo
by Eric Velasquez
The boy knows Bongo was right there with him this morning—but suddenly Bongo is missing. He asks his whole family if they've seen the stuffed toy. When he finds Bongo the boy is thrilled—but he still doesn't understand how his toy ended up there. Will his trap be enough to catch the Bongo thief?
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The first letter of the word “Bongo” is Bb. This letter says the sound /b/, /b/, /b/, like in banana, boy, and bone. Let’s say that sound together: /b/, /b/, /b/. Point to the Bb in the title. Read the title together, emphasizing the sound /b/.
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Busy: Doing something or working on something active
Rings: To make the sound of a bell
Curtains: A piece of cloth hung in a window to shut out light
Forever: For all time; always
Questions to Discuss
Who is the boy looking for? What is Bongo?
Who does the boy ask for help? What is their response?
How do you think the boy feels when no one can help him find Bongo?
Who should the boy have asked for help? Why would his sister have known where Bongo was?
Do you have a special stuffed animal you like to sleep with? Describe that stuffed animal to your adult. How would you feel if you lost it?
Why do you think the author chose to name the stuffed animal Bongo?
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Play Hot and Cold with your favorite stuffed animal. To play this game, hide your favorite stuffed animal. As your child goes searching for the stuffed animal, say “hot” as your child nears it. Say “cold” if your child goes further away from it. Take turns hiding the stuffed animal and playing together.
