Noodlehead Nightmares

Noodleheads #1

by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss

From the author who brought you Fly Guy comes an easy-to-read graphic novel about two very funny brothers—“great fun for newly independent readers and graphic novel newbies” (School Library Journal)

Mac and Mac, who love pie and hate making their beds, are hollow-headed. "See in here? Nothing! Zippo! Nada!" Mac explains. That’s why they're so easy to fool—and their clever friend Meatball isn't afraid to take advantage of that fact.

Illustrated by Tedd Arnold, whose Fly Guy series is a kid favorite, this graphic novel is perfect for comic fans and reluctant readers, with short, funny chapters following Mac and Mac through ridiculous adventures. Full of wordplay, jokes, and slapstick humor, the Noodlehead series is sure to delight.

Based on traditional world folktales and stories of fools, the Noodleheads also encourage critical thinking, inviting kids to use their noodles—spotting the holes in the brothers' grand plans, and anticipating how things will go awry.

Source notes from professional storytellers Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss provide more information about the traditional stories that inspired Mac and Mac's mishaps, showing how these comic motifs feature in folklore and legends all around the world and offering opportunities for further reading.

This easy-to-read series, including the Geisel Honor book Noodleheads See the Future, is an accessible introduction to stories of fools, and a great next read for fans of the Fly Guy books.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor, Childrens, Picture Books, Juvenile, Fiction, Comics

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Tedd grew up with three brothers. His family lived on a farm in Pennsylvania for several years then returned to Elmira until Tedd was ten years old. His father's work then required that they move to Gainesville, Florida. There, Tedd's first art lessons in an abandoned dentist's office over the Happy Hour pool hall eventually led to a fine arts degree from the University of Florida.

He and his wife, Carol, started their family in Tallahassee where Tedd worked as a commercial illustrator. Carol, a kindergarten teacher, drew Tedd's attention to children's books. Their first son, Walter, inspired his breakthrough picture book, NO JUMPING ON THE BED!.

He and his family now live in Elmira. His second son, William, now stars in NO MORE WATER IN THE TUB!, a sequel to his first book. He has now published over 50 books as author and illustrator.

Reviews

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

So silly and fun that any kid is gonna love this wacky, goofy super simple graphic novel about two noodlehead brothers whose biggest concern is how to get out of making their beds. What's not to love?? Ted Arnold of Fly Guy fame knows his audience, and this series will be a hit. Just buy it and give to pretty much any kid you know, stand back, and watch the laughs explode. (Meanwhile, smile serenely like you know kids and books, and how to get kids to laugh at books.)

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mac and Mac are brothers who are empty headed. They like apple pie, but don't like making their beds, and try different ways to prevent from making the beds after sleeping in them. Follow the silliness and adventures of these two noodleheads as they discover the best way not to make their beds.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun beginner graphic novel.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, I'm pretty good at "dumb" humour. I love terrible puns. I can usually appreciate circular logic. But every so often, a Big Deal comes along that I just don't get. Amelia Bedelia is one. The Noodleheads, I guess, are another. I just don't "get it," and I'm not convinced I want to.
That said, I can see how this book would cause no end of giggles among the kids, so I imagine it will be popular.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was in comic book format. I like exposing my boys to the genre, but so far, they haven't taken to it. They like the traditional book story format. In any case, the three stories were pretty bad and did not help the cause.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got a couple chuckles out of it, but a lot of the humor fell flat for me. I'm not the intended audience, so I'm sure younger readers will find more of it hilarious. That said, I have laughed hard at plenty of books for which I'm not the intended audience.

[Rachel Schmoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, easy reader graphic novel. Well done! It's probably two steps up in skill level from Elephant and Piggie. End of first grade could read it with assistance with a couple of the big words. But the plot is simple and funny. Lots of giggles!

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute beginner graphic novel. The fans of Fly Guy will certainly enjoy these new friends from Tedd Arnold. :)

[Talya Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

The noodle heads are having a nightmare 😰😰😰that I don't now about but there names are Mac other one is Mac. Bye bye guys 😀😀😀

[Sean Harman · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son and I didn't even make it halfway through the book. It feels like a child wrote it. There is no substance whatsoever. I gave it two stars because I liked the art.

[Taylor Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Noodlehead Nightmares" is a hilarious graphic novel. This graphic novel is about two noodle heads (literally, two noodles) named Mac and Mac. They are super silly, and the definition of a noodle head. Mac and Mac have different scenarios where they are either scared, are tricked by their friend, or they think that they are outsmarting different things in their life.
The artwork in this graphic novel depict the emotions of the noodles really well. The art work and their conversations ties in really well. I think that this type of graphic novel is great for emerging readers who are transitioning from reading children's books to chapter books. This book is also great for children who are learning how to read as well since there aren't a ton of words on the page, and children can use the pictures as context clues as well.
This is a great graphic novel that most children can relate to as well. The noodles try everything in their power to avoid sleeping in their beds. They sleep outside, and then towards the end they sleep under their beds. Their mom bribes them to sleep in their beds and make their beds by offering them apple pie. This is something that many children might be able to relate to, if their parents make them make their beds. The noodles think the way that most young children would also think. For example, when one noodle couldn't find his pillow, he took a box and filled it with feathers since that is what is inside pillows.
This book is super goofy and something that children would think is so funny. I am super excited to read this with some kiddos and see their reactions to this silly story. Children will also enjoy reading this book since the main characters are food, which is not a super common character in stories. Teachers can use this book to teach children sayings such as what noodle head means and what it means to have someone call you a noodle head. Overall, this story is super funny and children will really enjoy it!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gr 1-3- The one in the red shirt is Mac, and the one in the yellow shirt is Mac. They are noodleheads, walking, talking noodles, most likely macaroni, whose brains are as hollow as their heads. In a series of silly shorts, the brothers encounter their nightmares during their daily routines. While most of their fears are typical, their methods for coping are not. This graphic novel is inspired by themes commonly found in folktales, specifically those featuring fools. The authors refer to these as "noodle" tales. Like other famous fools, Mac and Mac make decisions that land them in trouble, and when they try to resolve the problem, their unique brand of logic doesn't quite work. In the case of this colourful cartoon, there is no underlying message or lesson, it is purely meant for entertainment. The easy-to-read dialogue is rather on the nose, but it does fit the general aesthetic. Fallacy, exaggerated gestures, and slapstick are the main techniques used to elicit a quick laugh. VERDICT A modern attempt at the foolish folktale, full of nonsensical humour and fun for the young reader.

*reviewed for School Library Journal

[Katy Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me say that graphic novels are not my favorite thing to read. This book was not my favorite; however, I did like the creativity shown throughout the book. I like how the characters are types of food. This really captured my attention while reading the book. I also like how the noodleheads try to get out of making their bed by sleeping outside and under their bed. I found this to be quite funny.

I think children would find this book hilarious. Not many children or people like to make their beds; therefore, I think they could easily relate to this book. The illustrations throughout the book are entertaining, which means children would enjoy them. This novel could be used as something fun for students to read in the classroom. Allowing students to choose what they want to read makes them interested and excited about reading.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mac and Mac are noodles. They also aren't very bright. In this one they try to figure out a way to avoid making their beds, then they have to decide how to split a pie, and finally one of the Macs has to find a substitute for his missing pillow.

In the front of the book there's notes from the authors about folklore from around the world that inspired these tales of foolish noodles and/or are similar to the stories in this book. The language used in the book is pretty simple and the graphic novel style makes it a very quick and enticing read. And of course the silly antics of Mac and Mac are sure to have kids in giggles. Recommended for those studying folklore, graphic novel fans, and silly story lovers.

[Audrey Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noodlehead Nightmares by Tedd Arnold is about noodles who do not want to make their bed. They try to sleep outside but get scared of the howling wind, then they figured out that sleeping UNDER their beds would work! I like this book as an independent reading book but that's it. I would not really use this book for centers or lessons because it has a weird storyline and does not teach great habits. I do like the fact that it is silly, which will help students get interested in reading. The storyline talks about the noodle boys getting a pie for making their beds, but their friend ate it all, and then one of the boys lost their pillow... it kind of jumps around which I don't think is great for those younger elementary students that would read this book.

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute series for emergent readers. Lots of repetition and the characters are cute. My 7 year old twins loved reading this out loud and comparing the "nightmares" in the book to their own. It was a good conversation starter for us about dreams and nightmares and how they are different for everyone.

We read together and I would read some and then point at words for them to sound out or the repeated words so they could chime in for those words they already knew. It meant they didn't feel the pressure of reading a whole page, but still sounded out a word per page and successfully read some words every page from memory.

Very colorful and fun art.

[Sam Wernert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two noodle brothers Mac and Mac hate making their beds. They try to figure out the best way to still sleep well but not have to make their beds. However, they get scared and end up back in their beds. They decide to sleep under their beds so they are inside but they don't have to worry about making their beds in the morning. I didn't really like this book, I am not used to reading graphic novels but I think if I read more of them I would get more used to the format. I would have this in my classroom library for students to look at and read because I do think they would enjoy this book because of the format and quick pace of the story.

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting, though this is the first book in the series, I read the second book first, and somehow I feel disappointed with this book.
I do believe kids would enjoy it, but I don't think it is a series I will read anymore, it is just too silly/stupid for me. I know the whole thing is they are noodleheads and have nothing in their brains, but it was just somewhat too stupid and still for me. However that being said, the graphics weren't bad and I think the language is a great level for beginning readers.

[Emily Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about nightmares that two noodles, both named Mac, have in each chapter. The noodles are avoiding to make their beds, and come up with different solutions to not make their beds. Some of the nightmares the noodles have throughout the book are getting their feet tangled up with one another, when Meatball ate their pie, having splinters in their noodle-heads, getting locked up in a treasure box, and having a storm drop a chicken coop on their house.

[Tanner Yergin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noodlehead Nightmares is a comical book that follows the so called "nightmares" of two Noodleheads called "Mac" and "Mac". It features fun colors and pictures throughout the book and makes for a fun time for reading. The end of the book makes total sense for how naughty and mischievous Mac and Mac are throughout the book.

[Wendy Kuzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short, silly chapters will appeal to younger elementary readers as well as the colorful, graphic novel format. I have to admit, the last chapter in this book reminds me of my own children who have found creative ways not to have to make their beds!

[Hannah Feeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goofy, but a very easy and fun read for children who love to laugh. Mac and Mac are hilarious throughout the book. They suggest ridiculous things to their mother. Their pie gets eaten and in the end after many, many nightmares they decide to sleep under their beds.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My class loves writing books about food. In fact many of them include meatballs as Tedd Arnold does. I will be glad to share this story with them. It can go with Josh Funk's Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast to serve as mentor texts for their wild food adventures. It's not as easy as you think.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noodlehead Nightmares is missing that spark of playing with words and humor that made its sequel so strong and wonderful!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This noodlehead series retells folktales from different countries in graphic novel format for young readers. This would be a fun and relatable way to teach folktales or "fools-tales" to lower elementary. Kindergarten or first grade could probably read them on their own.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The noodle heads are both named Mac. They are both empty headed and very silly.
Making your bed is no fun. The noodle heads will do anything to avoid it while dropping bits of wisdom like “a pillow is just something with feathers inside”

The 7yo looooves these books. Looooooooves.

[Mairéad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beginner graphic novel suitable for younger children (5-9) this funny story is sure to appeal to emerging independent readers who will enjoy the silly storyline and build confidence in their reading skills thanks to the straightforward text.
*available on Epic*

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was dumb, but I liked it. Mac and Mac are brothers who are noodles. They are not smart. They get fooled out of pie by their friend Meatball, and they sleep under their beds so they don't have to make them.

[Judy Desetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic story for young readers. Bright beautiful pictures. This is one for beginning readers, perhaps with help for a word or two. Enjoyable.

[Alex Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing