Mrs. Noodlekugel [Hardcover]

Daniel Pinkwater (Author), Adam Stower (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2012 | Age Range: 5 - 9 years | Series: Mrs. Noodlekugel

With signature wit and whimsy, the inimitable Daniel Pinkwater introduces an eccentric, endearing babysitter every child will wish they could have.

Nick and Maxine live in a tall building with one apartment on top of another. So when they look out their window and see a little house they never knew was there, of course they must visit (especially when their parents tell them not to!). Going through the boiler room, they’re amazed to find to a secret backyard with a garden, a porch, and a statue of a cat. And they’re even more amazed when that cat starts to talk. . . . Welcome to the world of Mrs. Noodlekugel, where felines converse and serve cookies and tea, vision-impaired mice join the party (but may put crumbs up their noses), and children in search of funny adventures are drawn by the warm smell of gingerbread and the promise of magical surprises.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Pinkwater takes his fey brand of humor into early chapter books with this story about a jolly little lady who lives in house within a circle of high-rises. Siblings Maxine and Nick discover the house and are determined to find out who lives there. Mike the janitor tells them that buildings grew up around the house—which is owned by nice, old Mrs. Noodlekugel—and that you can get there through the boiler room. Their father orders them not to go near the house. But of course they do, and soon the kids are having gingerbread cookies and tea with Mrs. Noodlekugel—and her cat, the piano-playing Mr. Fuzzface; and the mice, who serve as cookie cutters; and the gingerbread mice who seem to have a life of their own. The book is quite short, even for the genre, but it’s full of odd twists and amusing turns that will get new readers giggling. The cover art is so delicious readers will immediately pick this up and, when done, happily await the next Mrs. Noodlekugel adventure. Grades 1-3. --Ilene Cooper

Review

Stower’s illustrations have an old-fashioned sweetness, while Pinkwater, ever the effortless storyteller, adds just enough bite with his signature deadpan, loopy humor... Pinkwater works narrative magic within the grammatical confines of the early reader format—readers should find Mrs. Noodlekugel’s world delightful and instantly familiar, and look forward to future installments.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Daniel Pinkwater does not deal in pathos but in nutty good humor, and he has pitched the gently zany tale of MRS. NOODLEKUGEL at 5- to-7-year-olds who are just getting confident with chapter books... With occasionally tricky vocabulary, such as "ventriloquist" and "sanitary," this is just the sort of book to make a young reader feel adept.
—The Wall Street Journal

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle meets Mary Poppins.
—Kirkus Reviews

In novels and picture books we’ve seen Pinkwater in a variety of modes—absurd, satirical, anarchic, deadpan, funny-melancholy. In this offering, an early chapter book, we see yet another color in his palette: cozy... Stower’s pencil drawings perfectly echo the joyous insouciance of this benign—if surreal—backyard world.
—The Horn Book

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 9 years
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763650536
• ISBN-13: 978-0763650537
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Babysitting

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A SMILE PROVOKING DELIGHT May 3, 2012

By Gail Cooke HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Those who've had the pleasure of reading books by Daniel Pinkwater know what a joy he is - frequently absurd but so much fun! That's certainly the case with Mrs. Noodlekugel - just try to read it without smiling.

We meet a brother and sister - Nick and Maxine who along with their parents live in "A tall building, with one apartment stacked on top of another." Since it's a relatively new home they do a bit of exploring - Maxine discovers a backyard to the building which has a little house in it.

Now, their parents tell them not to go near the house so, of course, they do. Once there they find a pretty place - lots of grass, greenery and the little house surrounded by a yellow fence. Since they decide the house looks friendly they approach it and see a statue of a cat - that speaks. Not only speaks but pushes open a door flap to "see if the mistress is at home."

The mistress, Mrs. Noodlekugel, is at home and invites the children in to have apple cookies, which were baked by Mrs. N's cat, Mr. Fuzzface. They learn he's a very good baker as most Danish blues are.

Those aren't the only surprises in store for Nick and Maxine and all lucky readers.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charm & Delight April 30, 2012

By BookWitch

Format:Hardcover

MRS. NOODLEKUGEL is a sweet and funny early chapter book, with great illustrations by Adam Stower (who also did the KEEPERS OF THE SCHOOL illustrations which I was a fan of as well). It is short - but of course, it is for little kids who are just starting to read. And the door is open for many more books featuring these fun characters.

In the tradition of MRS PIGGLE-WIGGLE and MARY POPPINS, this is a charming and delightful "magical babysitter" story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FUN! April 26, 2012

By Deborah White

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

FUN! This is classic Daniel Pinkwater with characters stating the obvious in a wry tone, absurd happenings interspersed with everyday activities, and a wild sense of fun!

The text is accessible for those on the cusp of attempting chapter books. It is also much more appealing than typical books at this reading level. I don't know if he intended this but, Pinkwater has managed to craft this story in a manner that is gender neutral. As a classroom teacher, this is something I value. Many books aimed at this audience are clearly targeted for a specific gender which limits its usefulness.

The illustrations remind me of Chris Van Duesen's work in The Circus Ship as well as the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Mrs. Pickerell Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars of my childhood.