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Mrs. Noodlekugel #2
Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice
Four farsighted mice get glasses — and a talking cat solves a family mystery — as the charmingly eccentric Mrs. Noodlekugel returns.
When Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor — and invites Nick and Maxine to come along! The mice ride on Mrs. Noodlekugel’s hat, while Mr. Fuzzface, her talking cat, has the indignity of riding in a carrier. Afterward, the hungry crew head to Dirty Sally’s Lunchroom, but the mice overdo their cheesecake and run out the door. Luckily a policeman is at the ready to help with the search — as is a rough-edged, yarn-spinning alley cat with a surprising connection to Mr. Fuzzface! It’s all a day in the life of Daniel Pinkwater’s whimsical characters, in a chapter-book series whose comical tone and cozy illustrations are sure to keep young readers coming back for more.
When Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor — and invites Nick and Maxine to come along! The mice ride on Mrs. Noodlekugel’s hat, while Mr. Fuzzface, her talking cat, has the indignity of riding in a carrier. Afterward, the hungry crew head to Dirty Sally’s Lunchroom, but the mice overdo their cheesecake and run out the door. Luckily a policeman is at the ready to help with the search — as is a rough-edged, yarn-spinning alley cat with a surprising connection to Mr. Fuzzface! It’s all a day in the life of Daniel Pinkwater’s whimsical characters, in a chapter-book series whose comical tone and cozy illustrations are sure to keep young readers coming back for more.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
13 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Pinkwater
156 books414 followersDaniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 9, 2017
Better than the first, if more absurd. Recommended if you like Pinkwater... but unfortunately I must rec. the first just to get you oriented. I still want a more creative illustrator. Love Mr. Fuzzface's reason for wanting to find his father! But I need to look up "Nesselrode Pie."
May 28, 2017
I think DP phoned this one in. It felt like he said, "Okay, I have three ideas, that makes a book," and called it a day. The first Noodlekugel book had a lot more spark to it.
October 7, 2013
Mrs. Noodlekugel lives in a sweet little cottage betweentall apartment buildings. Her world is deliciously quirky as she shares her residence with a talking cat, Mr. Fuzzface, and four blind mice. It is the four blind mice that drive the action in this tale as their poor vision takes Mrs. Noodlekugel and company, which includes children Nick and Maxine (Mrs. Noodlekugel is their babysitter) to the city to visit the oculist.
While in the city, the group stops at a questionable restaurant, Dirty Sally's Lunchroom, for tea and cheesecake where the mice make a huge mess. All the sugar goes straight to the mice's heads and they take off into the city. The chase is on and when at last the group is reunited they have added another cat to their membership. But this cat already has ties to the group as all will soon find out.
This book is one of those sweet gems that holds the same place in my heart as Pippi Longstocking. It's quirky and lovable with memorable characters. Ink illustrations. Recommended for grades 2-4.
While in the city, the group stops at a questionable restaurant, Dirty Sally's Lunchroom, for tea and cheesecake where the mice make a huge mess. All the sugar goes straight to the mice's heads and they take off into the city. The chase is on and when at last the group is reunited they have added another cat to their membership. But this cat already has ties to the group as all will soon find out.
This book is one of those sweet gems that holds the same place in my heart as Pippi Longstocking. It's quirky and lovable with memorable characters. Ink illustrations. Recommended for grades 2-4.
August 14, 2017
We read the first installation of this series yesterday and read the second one today. Each took < 30 minutes. My kids, 7 and 5 years, both rated this one as 5 stars. I would give it 3 stars. There's nothing particularly memorable about this series. It kind of gives me a Mercy Watson feel. Very simple language. Not much of a plot. But the kids like it, so who am I to argue? They asked for the third installment immediately. I'll oblige.
February 12, 2018
didn't like it
November 27, 2020
*2.75
I did enjoy this one more than the first book, but it still feels a bit incomplete. The story was more fun in this one, though, and I have to give them credit for that. All the animals and friends that were made made the story that much more sweet and fun. But, as I said, it still feels incomplete at points. I think it’s the way the writing is done, it feels like Pinkwater writes the bare minimum and no more, maybe because he’s writing for children or maybe just because he’s not all that talented in expending upon what he wants to say. Regardless of which it is, it bogs up the story and makes you feel as though it’s really not the whole story, as if some pages are missing. Still, I do believe children would love it, and definitely this one more than the first book.
I might recommend this one, I’m not too sure. Possibly.
I did enjoy this one more than the first book, but it still feels a bit incomplete. The story was more fun in this one, though, and I have to give them credit for that. All the animals and friends that were made made the story that much more sweet and fun. But, as I said, it still feels incomplete at points. I think it’s the way the writing is done, it feels like Pinkwater writes the bare minimum and no more, maybe because he’s writing for children or maybe just because he’s not all that talented in expending upon what he wants to say. Regardless of which it is, it bogs up the story and makes you feel as though it’s really not the whole story, as if some pages are missing. Still, I do believe children would love it, and definitely this one more than the first book.
I might recommend this one, I’m not too sure. Possibly.
January 8, 2019
When Mrs. Noodlekugel's four far-sighted mice create one mess too many, it's time to take them to the oculist to have their eyes checked. En route, Nick and Maxine learn the sad story of Mr. Fuzzface's lost father. Back when Mrs. Noodlekugel was the only lady engineer on the railroad, Mr. Fuzzface was a railroad cat (extra credit for the skillful references to "The wreck of the old 97"). But when the mice eat too much cheesecake at a restaurant, Mr. Fuzzface has an unexpected reunion.
October 29, 2018
Miss 4 enjoyed it (though she liked the first book better).
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
April 16, 2018
Super cute stories for read alouds!
February 19, 2019
Read this aloud to my 5 year old. We liked it better than the first one.
July 13, 2022
This was better than the first, more action and depth. We find out about Mr. Fuzzface's father n family. And travel a bit.
April 10, 2023
Funny little story based on simpler times. I wish the book were longer I didn’t want it to end!
April 13, 2023
A cute, silly story with some good vocabulary for ELL students. I didn't particularly love it, but the 1st graders did, and that's what counts, I suppose.
January 12, 2026
better than the first one, imo! fun, silly story with a nice little surprise. teddy and i both laughed.
August 27, 2016
Whimsical Adventure, With A Wink, For Kids
No one does deadpan nuttiness better than Daniel Pinkwater. From early readers through YA high schoolers these are books for kids with an eye on the absurd.
This book falls into a middle grade category, I think. It is informed by Pinkwater's signature narrative style - an oddly formal and restrained yet silly approach that treats even the most unusual situations as perfectly normal and unremarkable. This often has the effect of transforming the mundane, trivial or commonplace into something strange and magical.
Here, two siblings have befriended the old lady who lives in a house entirely penned in by surrounding apartment buildings. They can only get to her porch by walking through their apartment building's boiler room. Mrs. Noodlekugle has a talking cat and four farsighted bumbling mice. The kids get to visit her often and the gang goes on various urban adventures while Mrs. N. tells fantastically odd stories and makes remarkably eccentric observations. It's strange and comfortable at the same time. You will most probably wish that you could eat cheesecake with this gang at Dirty Sally's Lunchroom.
All of this works because of the characters Pinkwater favors. Regardless of the ages all of his protagonists are capable, resourceful, unflappable and mildly bemused by the situations they encounter. They are armed with keen insight. They are also curious and courageous, and completely attuned to the absurdity around them. Whether it's a piano playing talking cat, a giant chicken, a lizard musical band, a cat-whiskered girl, or an alien hamburger stand, these heroes and heroines bravely step forward to see "what the heck this is all about".
I doubt you could read a lot of these books one after the other; it would probably get to be a bit much. But, for a spicy diversion this might be just the right choice for an adventuresome reader.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
No one does deadpan nuttiness better than Daniel Pinkwater. From early readers through YA high schoolers these are books for kids with an eye on the absurd.
This book falls into a middle grade category, I think. It is informed by Pinkwater's signature narrative style - an oddly formal and restrained yet silly approach that treats even the most unusual situations as perfectly normal and unremarkable. This often has the effect of transforming the mundane, trivial or commonplace into something strange and magical.
Here, two siblings have befriended the old lady who lives in a house entirely penned in by surrounding apartment buildings. They can only get to her porch by walking through their apartment building's boiler room. Mrs. Noodlekugle has a talking cat and four farsighted bumbling mice. The kids get to visit her often and the gang goes on various urban adventures while Mrs. N. tells fantastically odd stories and makes remarkably eccentric observations. It's strange and comfortable at the same time. You will most probably wish that you could eat cheesecake with this gang at Dirty Sally's Lunchroom.
All of this works because of the characters Pinkwater favors. Regardless of the ages all of his protagonists are capable, resourceful, unflappable and mildly bemused by the situations they encounter. They are armed with keen insight. They are also curious and courageous, and completely attuned to the absurdity around them. Whether it's a piano playing talking cat, a giant chicken, a lizard musical band, a cat-whiskered girl, or an alien hamburger stand, these heroes and heroines bravely step forward to see "what the heck this is all about".
I doubt you could read a lot of these books one after the other; it would probably get to be a bit much. But, for a spicy diversion this might be just the right choice for an adventuresome reader.
Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
February 1, 2016
This time Nick and Max go with Mrs. Noodlekugel and Fuzzface to take the four mice to have their eyesight checked. They ride the bus, Fuzzface has to stay in a cat carrier, which he doesn’t like at all, and the four mice are able to ride in Mrs. Noodlekugel’s hat band for free!
The mice get their eyes checked and then everybody goes out for cheesecake for lunch, but what happens when four mice eat too much sugar? They run all over the place, but too quickly for Nick, Max, Mrs. Noodlekugel and Fuzzface to follow. They have to start a search and even a police officer helps look for the mice. It turns out they were stopped in an alley by another cat. This cat has a crook in his tail and a hole in his ear and he was once a railroad cat, but became a sea cat...wait how does that sound familiar?
I love how a zany these stories are, especially as all the adults just take everything in stride. When they board the bus the bus driver just states the fares, one adult, two kids, one cat, four mice. When their waiter turns out to be a monkey Mrs. Noodlekugel reads his note and then everybody just orders cheesecakes and tea (as they had no sardines to top Mr. Fuzzface’s ice cream and what’s ice cream without sardines?).
An amusing and cute story. I especially like that everyone in the diner was eating Nesselrode pie (which I had to look up and is a pie made with chestnuts and bavarian cream), then the police officer asks for Nesselrode pie instead of cheesecake and his name happens to be Officer Chestnut. Little details like that would be fun to look up and discover with kids.
The illustrations by Stower add a lot to the already quirky and fun story. Another book to consider for the kids book club.
The mice get their eyes checked and then everybody goes out for cheesecake for lunch, but what happens when four mice eat too much sugar? They run all over the place, but too quickly for Nick, Max, Mrs. Noodlekugel and Fuzzface to follow. They have to start a search and even a police officer helps look for the mice. It turns out they were stopped in an alley by another cat. This cat has a crook in his tail and a hole in his ear and he was once a railroad cat, but became a sea cat...wait how does that sound familiar?
I love how a zany these stories are, especially as all the adults just take everything in stride. When they board the bus the bus driver just states the fares, one adult, two kids, one cat, four mice. When their waiter turns out to be a monkey Mrs. Noodlekugel reads his note and then everybody just orders cheesecakes and tea (as they had no sardines to top Mr. Fuzzface’s ice cream and what’s ice cream without sardines?).
An amusing and cute story. I especially like that everyone in the diner was eating Nesselrode pie (which I had to look up and is a pie made with chestnuts and bavarian cream), then the police officer asks for Nesselrode pie instead of cheesecake and his name happens to be Officer Chestnut. Little details like that would be fun to look up and discover with kids.
The illustrations by Stower add a lot to the already quirky and fun story. Another book to consider for the kids book club.
November 3, 2013
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Media: https://pscreviews.org
Mrs. Noodlekugel is just what I need for those strong readers we find in kindergarten and first grade. Obviously from the title, there are multi-syllable words in this book. It took me some time to think about who Mrs. Noodlekugel reminded me of--Mrs. Piggle Wiggle! She's that grandmotherly type neighbor who literally makes magic happen. The absurd seems normal around her. This is the second book in the series. It's not necessary to have read the first to enjoy this one. Nick and Maxine live in one of the apartment buildings that surround Mrs. Noodlekugels cute little house. And just like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and Mary Poppins she's there to bring magic into their lives. They visit her m the four mice she lives with and her talking cat, Mr. Fuzzface. When the mice start dropping their food all over the table, Mrs. Noodlekugel takes them to the optometrist who successfully diagnoses their problem and makes eye glasses for them. When the four mice scamper out to explore (after a sugar high from the cheesecake at Dirty Sally's Lunchroom) Mr. Fuzzface gets the happiest surprise of his life. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT. I haven't been a fan of Daniel Pinkwater's for some time, but this series changes. Please, Mr. Pinkwater, more adventures of Mrs. Noodlekugel. And a bing hurray for Adam Stower's artwork.
Mrs. Noodlekugel is just what I need for those strong readers we find in kindergarten and first grade. Obviously from the title, there are multi-syllable words in this book. It took me some time to think about who Mrs. Noodlekugel reminded me of--Mrs. Piggle Wiggle! She's that grandmotherly type neighbor who literally makes magic happen. The absurd seems normal around her. This is the second book in the series. It's not necessary to have read the first to enjoy this one. Nick and Maxine live in one of the apartment buildings that surround Mrs. Noodlekugels cute little house. And just like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and Mary Poppins she's there to bring magic into their lives. They visit her m the four mice she lives with and her talking cat, Mr. Fuzzface. When the mice start dropping their food all over the table, Mrs. Noodlekugel takes them to the optometrist who successfully diagnoses their problem and makes eye glasses for them. When the four mice scamper out to explore (after a sugar high from the cheesecake at Dirty Sally's Lunchroom) Mr. Fuzzface gets the happiest surprise of his life. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT. I haven't been a fan of Daniel Pinkwater's for some time, but this series changes. Please, Mr. Pinkwater, more adventures of Mrs. Noodlekugel. And a bing hurray for Adam Stower's artwork.
July 31, 2013
This is an easy to read chapter book that is short enough to hold a child's attention. To me it looks a little old fashioned and I can tell you that my son would never pick it up off the shelf. He is reading chapter books but the covers have to be colorful and eye catching.
To me, the story line was not that great. I found it boring and at the same time, TOO silly and that is not something I ever thought I would say about a book. It is NOT a book that I would approve for him to read. I think that when a child is old enough to read chapter books, the books should be slightly more realistic. I am not saying they can not be fun and silly but they should not be so far over the top during these important times of a child's life.
Having said all of that, do not take my word on it, go out and read this book for yourself. I would love to know your thoughts on it as well!
***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***
December 21, 2013
Nick and Maxine are thrilled to be able to go downtown on the bus with their odd little neighbor, Mrs. Noodlekugel. Of course her pets liven things up and make it quite the exciting trip. Mr. Fuzzface, her talking cat, is annoyed because he has to ride in a cat carrier on the bus and then there are no sardines to go with his ice cream. He rants and raves about his no-good father that left his mother with seven kittens to raise and never came back. He is a little grumpy, to say the least. Then there are the four blind mice who visit the eye doctor for some new spectacles. When they can properly see again they set off for adventures and cause a whole lot of chaos in their wake. This is an entertaining intermediate series for boys and girls. Charming black and white illustrations accompany the story.
February 23, 2017
Another cute adventure for Mrs. Noodlekugel and I was a little surprised with a twist in the story.
February 7, 2017
This was a fun read that my early chapter reader enjoyed. It was very forgettable however.
January 19, 2014
FUN beginning chapter book series! This is book 2... but stands on its own. This one focuses on a hilarious cat named Fuzzface who claims that if he ever runs into his father (who left his family when he was a kitten), he will "bite him" to teach him a lesson. "I will give him ten seconds to explain... After that, I will be all over him like sardines on ice cream." There's also the adventure of the mice being taken into town to get fitted for eyeglasses. I love it when the oculist says, "I will go into the back room and make eyeglasses. You may read magazines and look at pictures on the walls." Maybe I'm weird, but that tickled my funny bone! Mrs. Noodlekugel is a fun babysitter :)
October 30, 2013
Can't hate on a book that manages to get "nom nom nom" into it.
But also some of the words/language are/is harder than I would expect in a first chapter book (which this is clearly marketed as and intended to be). The 's language is really hard to understand and I think that once kids get it, they might think it's funny, but I'm not sure that they'd get it, and struggling readers would definitely have a hard time with his dialect.
Also, the word Noodlekugel is hard.
But also some of the words/language are/is harder than I would expect in a first chapter book (which this is clearly marketed as and intended to be). The 's language is really hard to understand and I think that once kids get it, they might think it's funny, but I'm not sure that they'd get it, and struggling readers would definitely have a hard time with his dialect.
Also, the word Noodlekugel is hard.
July 20, 2015
Better than the first but still sub-par when compared to other Pinkwater books (I've read over 70 Pinkwater books so I think I'm in a good position to compare).
Probably 2.5 but I rounded up.
Mrs. Noodlekugel goes on a quick city adventure because the mice need glasses.
It really feels like after 40 years of writing that Daniel Pinkwater is trying to be a popular writer instead of the great writer that he's been for 40 years. The premise is off, the writing is off, the humor is off...just a bad series...stop writing these books.
Probably 2.5 but I rounded up.
Mrs. Noodlekugel goes on a quick city adventure because the mice need glasses.
It really feels like after 40 years of writing that Daniel Pinkwater is trying to be a popular writer instead of the great writer that he's been for 40 years. The premise is off, the writing is off, the humor is off...just a bad series...stop writing these books.
May 18, 2013
The sequel to Mrs. Noodlekugel finds young Nick and Maxine on a strange adventure downtown with their babysitter and friend Mrs. Noodlekugel,her talking cat Mr. Fuzzface, and her four mice. Their mission is to find spectacles for the farsighted mice. A surprise adventure involving the four naughty mice occurs, leading them to solve a miraculous mystery. This is another fun frolic for early chapter book readers, reminiscent of the beloved Mrs. Piggle Wiggle adventures.
July 28, 2013
Early chapter book, follow up to Mr.s Noodlekugel. This time the big adventure is Mrs. Noodlekugel, Nick, Maxine and Mr. Fuzzface the talking cat take the bus downtown to get the 4 mice fitted for eyeglasses and while they are downtown they meet a cat from Fuzzface's past and eat in a restaurant.
Best line: "I am sure it is nice," Mrs. Noodlekugel said. "Only a good restaurant would have a digusting name like that. They must call it that to discourage the timid. We can go in."
Best line: "I am sure it is nice," Mrs. Noodlekugel said. "Only a good restaurant would have a digusting name like that. They must call it that to discourage the timid. We can go in."
May 9, 2015
2nd book is better than the first style-wise. Love how everything is just a matter of fact; you want to take 4 mice in your hat on the bus? Ok. You want to take 4 blind mice to get them glasses? Done. Policeman meets 2 talking cats and doesn't flip out? Of course. It's all good.
Loved particularly the 2nd talking cat's speech patterns (hilarious).
p.s. had to Google what Nesselrode pie was as I had never heard of it; fascinating! Wonder if it would be nasty or nice?
Loved particularly the 2nd talking cat's speech patterns (hilarious).
p.s. had to Google what Nesselrode pie was as I had never heard of it; fascinating! Wonder if it would be nasty or nice?
December 19, 2013
This book was okay. I imagine it's targeted at those beginning readers in grades K-2 but even so I found the plot a bit lacking. The premise is two children who spend time with their elderly neighbor and her pets. This book has them going into the city to get glasses for the four mice. The cats talk, but the mice don't. A cute little story, but not one I would recommend.
June 20, 2015
Another cute story featuring Mrs. Noodlekugel and her friends. The four mice that live with her need glasses and off she, the mice, Mr. Fuzzface the cat, and children Maxine and Nick go to see about outfitting the mice. Perfect chapter book for those readers who have ventured past the Level 3 readers. Adam Stower's illustrations are fun and suit the story.
September 7, 2013
I found the tone and storyline of this book strange and old-fashioned, as if Pinkwater was writing a children's book for other adults. I need to share this book with kids and see what they make of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews