One Magical Monkey

Teacher Abbie as a toddler, with Coco the Monkey

As someone who has had careers in theatre and early childhood education, I’ve seen firsthand the marvel and wonder puppets bring to children. Puppets are magical catalysts for storytelling, providing a physical anchor to imagination. To children, they are real beings who ignite joy. As a child, I too was enthralled by the magic of puppets. There is a story that my mom tells from when I was a toddler, a story in which I became enamored with a puppet.

The local library had “puppet bins” available for people to check out. One of the bins that my mom checked out had a soft, brown, fuzzy monkey inside. My mom says that my eyes lit up each time she put the monkey on her hand. I loved that monkey so much that my mom knew I needed one of my own. In the days before the internet, my mom says that she looked at the tag on the monkey, called the number stitched on it, and located for me in California my very own monkey puppet. It was my Christmas gift that year.

Now, over twenty-five years later, I still have that monkey puppet. Named Coco, she’s travelled with me to each classroom that I’ve taught in. Earlier this year, she was introduced to the Winter Room children. They squealed with delight as Coco asked them about different rules in our classroom.

“So…do we run inside?” Coco asked a squirming, smiling group of preschoolers.

A few of them emphatically answered, “No! We do it outside!” Another added, “Yep, we gotta walk inside so we don’t get bonked.”

“How about yelling?” Coco asked.

“No!” a child yelled. Getting looks from his classmates, he decreased his volume and laughed, “Oopsie daisy.”

With each question Coco asked, the children’s eyes grew larger with delight. They were locked into Coco’s voice, their attention completely enraptured. The end of circle time that day concluded with each of the children getting to either high five or hug Coco. After that circle time, I knew that Coco would become a permanent part of our classroom.

During snack that day, she sat upon the counter while the children gleefully ate.

“Where is Coco’s snack?” one child asked.

“She have some of my ‘nana?” another child said while their fingers gripped a slippery yellow piece of banana.

The love the children showed that little puppet, one who has been with me throughout my life, warmed my heart. Coco’s magic continues on in the twinkle in the children’s eyes as they interact with her, reminding me of my own mother’s love and the power of imagination.