Noodleheads Do the Impossible

Noodleheads #6

by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss

Do you want to be famous? Mac and Mac do. How? By doing the impossible! You'll laugh out loud at the funny adventures in this comic-style book.

First they decide to walk around the world. But when Mom says it's too far for them to go, they decide to count the stars. They reach a bazillion when they see that some of the stars have fallen into Mom's washtub.

Mac and Mac rescue the fallen stars, but then lose count. They decide to count grains of sand instead.

Then . . . while counting grains of sand, they realize THEY'VE WALKED AROUND THE WORLD!!!

This sixth book in the Noodleheads graphic novel series is perfect for comic fans and reluctant readers. Short chapters--full of wordplay, jokes, and slapstick humor--follow Mac and Mac through their funny adventures. It is co-written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold, known for his popular Fly Guy series.

Based on traditional world folktales and stories of fools, the Noodleheads encourage critical thinking. They invite readers to use their noodles to spot holes in the brothers' grand plans.

Source notes by co-authors Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss, professional storytellers known as Beauty and the Beast, provide information about the traditional stories that inspired Mac and Mac's mishaps and give suggestions 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.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor, Folk Tales, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

Published January 3, 2023

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

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to do impossible things? Mac and Mac do too. They want to walk all the way around the world, count all the stars in the sky, and count all the grains of sand. This is an enjoyable hilarious adventure.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I mention folk literature and noodlehead tales to the students in my children's literature classes, they seem to draw a blank and have no idea what I'm talking about. I always recommend this series, which now consists of six titles. Not only do the Noodleheads here look like noodles, but they behave in foolish or naive ways, something that most of use can find relatable. Readers can laugh at the characters' behavior but also at themselves for doing something just as foolish. In this particular book, they engage in three different tasks in a bid for fame. In the first chapter, the brothers decide to walk around the world after putting their best foot forward and following a relative's advice. In the second chapter, they try to count the stars in the sky and land on a bazillion, give or take the ones that washed out of the tub. In the third, they get turned around after taking a break from counting the grains of sand and end up back home quickly, making them certain that they have actually walked all the way around the world. Notes in the back matter offer explanations and discuss the origins of these particular stories and some of the idioms used in their telling. There's a lot more to noodlehead tales than many give them credit for having. I'm a fan of the colorful, cartoonlike illustrations and panels that make the books so easy to read. I dare anyone to read this book or any of the others in the series and not smile just a little bit.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac and Mac want to do something impossible. First they set out to walk around the world, but their mom disapproves so they decide to try and count the stars. And counting stars during the day is hard, which means they end up counting sand, and just maybe doing the impossible?

If this is your first time reading a Noodleheads book, make sure you read the authors' notes in the back about the folklore that inspired each part of this book. This is funnier than the past couple of Noodleheads book, and I can see kids really cheering for Mac and Mac to pull off the impossible.

Notes on content: The intro of the book has their uncle telling Mac and Mac about a snake eating a frog which was in turn eating the snake. It has a non-bloody finish.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac and Mac set out to making a name for themselves by doing the impossible. They walk around trying to find ideas of what "impossible" thing they could do.

Arnold gives, in the back of the book, the folktales that inspired the storyline in this book. This was a humorous read for sure, as the noodleheads are utterly ridiculous, but yet kind of make sense as well.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
Humorous series for mid-elementary level readers. This time Mac and Mac listen to impossible stories, attempt impossible things themselves and succeed in "walking around the world."
Readers will appreciate how ridiculous these two characters are and enjoy how they share their lives.

[Vellanorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a five because I have three favorite parts. The first was that noodle head Mac and Mac did the impossible thing of all and walked all around the whole world. Second they try did to count all the stars. And lastly that they counted all the rocks wrong the world.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet. I love the mom. Mac and Mac decide they want to do something impossible, like walk all the way around the world. They try to count all the stars in the sky and all the grains of sand. And Meatball inadvertently helps them. 😂

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't go wrong reading noodleheads!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super goofy and silly beginner comic featuring a cast of wacky characters.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series, but still cute.

[skcocnaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Hilarious.

[Megan Moss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painful read aloud that I read to my boys—they probably enjoyed it more than me though

[Krissquared · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6yr/o read this to me. He loves it. It’s cute, silly, engaging with its comic style, and comes full circle in the end. Will be helping pick him up the others in the series.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a very weird book.

[Michael Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for kids and adults, very funny!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Noodleheads (fools) think they can walk around the globe

[zhanghao · Rating 5 out of 5]

People always have to do the impossible.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.25

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, graphic easy reader about the efforts of two goofy noodleheads to do impossible things like walk around the world, count the stars, etc. Based on world folktales, the three short adventures, paired with Tedd Arnold's goofy illustrations, will bring grins and a few laughs to young readers. The author's notes in the back help adults pair the book with folktales, raising the instructional value of the book somewhat.

[Penny Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly fun with Mac and Mac, the Noodleheads. Great early reader children's graphic novel. Love this illustrator's adorable illustrations.