Books and Recordings
Noodleheads Find Something Fishy
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* (Starred Review) Gr 1-3–The Noodlehead brothers, Mac and Mac, are back in this irresistibly funny graphic novel about misunderstandings and mistakes. The empty-headed boys go fishing after their mother pushes them out of the house on a beautiful day. Wordplay abounds, such as when the boys both literally and figuratively miss the boat. Arnold’s exaggerated artwork complements the hilarious text. Side characters serve either to trick Mac and Mac or attempt to help them figure out life. The series reads like an updated (and, well, smarter) version of Harry Allard’s The Stupids. The authors’ notes at the end provide historical context for the adventures. Arnold, Hamilton, and Weiss borrow from many international sources of classic fools’ stories, and the citations are a nice touch. Kids will feel like they have the upper hand while also reveling in Mac and Mac’s foibles, and they might even learn a thing or two about logical reasoning. Even Mac and Mac learn something by the end, but when it comes down to it, they’re still the same old Noodleheads. VERDICT A must-buy for graphic novel collections.–Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX