I tried being explicit in the books about the kids' climbing controls, but in the update I'm working on, I'll remove being able to knock them off from ladders to make the thing less annoying at least.
osc4r0 is the pass for the 7th or so level and passwords of their levels are revealed at the end: I'm assuming you replayed that leve because you wrote that password.
Didn't really use TLG or Ico as references, my mind was at least thinking more on RE4 and Oddworld at least.
As for Bonka's smell: That is something I never really thought of (And I do mean that).
Let's say that Bonka is part of a clown race/species that while still being close to humans in lots of ways, still has its own traits like the skin colors and nose.