The seventh—and last—of our Noodleheads series with Tedd Arnold is now available. Kirkus Reviews says:

“Reading about Noodleheads is easy as pie.The Noodleheads are back for another series of logically illogical tales rooted in international folklore. In this seventh outing of the series, protagonists Mac and Mac, anthropomorphic pieces of macaroni pasta, are trying to take it easy on a nice summer day, but their naïveté and cheery ability to take things literally (if not logically) eventually lead them into town, where they need to purchase ingredients for pies that their mother wants to make. Along the way, they consider idioms related to the word easy (“easy as pie,” “easy as falling off a log”), eventually returning with the ingredients—and eager for pie. Although the pies eventually get made, some pie-related tomfoolery ensues as their friend Meatball helps them pass the time as the desserts cool, but everything works out for the best. Young readers unfamiliar with the titular characters’ previous exploits will have no problem understanding the zany humor, and mature readers will love the backmatter, which traces the history of each story’s inspirations. Arnold’s bold artwork, depicting characters with bulging eyes and oversize bodies on tiny legs, remains a classic vehicle for capturing the wackiness of the tales, and fans of this pair’s adventures will welcome this latest addition with giggles galore. Savvy educators and caregivers will use this as an introduction to discuss idioms and the importance of not being a noodlehead in real life! Sweet as pie!" (Graphic early reader. Ages 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews says "Empty-headed (literally) sibs Mac and Mac fulfill the title’s promise with their grandest, daftest quest yet. Inspired by their uncle Ziti’s “impossible” yarn about a snake and a frog that swallowed each other, the tubular twins decide to become famous for an impossible feat of their own. But what? Walking around the world? Counting all the stars above? Or all the grains of sand below? Each turns out to present certain difficulties—after counting a “bazillion” stars, for instance, Mac and Mac find more that have fallen into their mom’s washtub and need to be rescued. “Are they heavy?” asks Mac. Mac responds: “No, they’re light.” (Ha, ha.) Adults, particularly those of a scholarly bent, will appreciate the fantastically detailed, tiny-type notes at the end about folktale motifs, variations drawn from diverse traditions, modern versions, idioms, and even the notion of “infinity.” Readers younger of age and/or heart will chortle at the Macs’ general cluelessness, then cheer them on as they do get “around the world” just in time for lunch—thanks to the intervention of frenemy Meatball, the only nonpasta player in Arnold’s foodcentric cartoon frames, who turns their shoes around while they’re napping. The little jokes embedded within the large ones are just as delightful, as when Mac and Mac try to figure out how to “always [put] your best foot forward.” It’s not as easy as grown-ups say it is. The sources may be old, but the drollery is timeless.(Graphic early reader. 6-8) "

Kirkus Reviews says "In another easy-reading graphic novel told in three loosely connected stories, the well-meaning but naïve pasta siblings Mac and Mac find out that luck is with them. In Chapter 1, their old frenemy Meatball introduces the anthropomorphic ziti to honey, but the noodleheads understand it as “trouble.” Seeing an opportunity for mischief, Meatball then gives them a bag of “trouble.” The paper bag contains bees, but luckily, their mother intercepts it. By sheer coincidence, she has just built herself beehives, and what starts as a problem ends up being a boon. In Chapter 2, Meatball sells the brothers a watermelon that can hatch cats. Of course it doesn’t, but of course they end up with a kitten anyway thanks to the generosity of Farmer Spud. Chapter 3 shows them trying to think of a strong name for the kitten, starting out with Sky and Cloudy, then moving to sillier names such as Hippopotamus, Blippopotamus, and Nincompoop. (The cat’s expressions as they try these names out are hilarious.) When Mom says that the kitten is lucky to have the brothers as caregivers, they fasten on the right name and shout: “We got Lucky!” Arnold’s paneled cartoons extend the silliness. Fun-loving kids will laugh out loud as Mac and Mac make mistakes but end up OK. Adults will enjoy the excellent story source notes. Children who appreciate being a little smarter than the characters they read about will relish it. (Graphic early reader. 6-8) "

School Library Journal says "Gr 1-3–The Noodleheads are back and as clueless as ever in this latest installment. To their credit, Mac and Mac decide to fill their empty heads with knowledge. They aren’t sure where to get knowledge, so they ask someone at their local library. Fortunately for them, it turns out that books are where knowledge comes from, so one brother checks out a novel called Fortress of Doom and the other gets a joke book. Some of the jokes predictably fly over their heads, and there’s a particularly funny spread where they can’t quite figure out how a knock-knock joke works. Since the jokes don’t pan out, Mac and Mac opt to build their very own Fortress of Doom using a wood pile in their backyard. When Meatball comes to visit, the trio have a tall tale contest with a surprising winner. All’s well that ends well, of course, and the brothers’ well-meaning nature saves the day once more. Arnold’s buoyant illustrations and the protagonists’ goofy dialogue are sure to entice readers. Part of the joy of the series is the authors’ notes at the end explaining the historical basis behind the Noodleheads’ foibles. VERDICT The Noodleheads tackle fort-building and joke-telling in this likable and silly comic. A must-buy for libraries where the series is popular. Reviewed by Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave Public Library, TX

Kirkus Reviews says "Back for the fourth time, the pasta-headed duo keeps up the fun with their literal way of thinking. In an introduction, the pair visits the library and borrows some books. The brothers admit that they don’t understand the joke in one of their books: “What is the tallest building in the world?” The answer: “The library. It has the most stories!” Young readers of this three-chapter graphic novel will pride themselves on being smarter than Mac and Mac. They will “get it.” They’ll chuckle when one Mac is left to guard the door of the “Fortress of Doom” they just built while the other Mac goes to get something to eat. When one brother returns, he finds the other brother far from the fortress—but not the door. Fascinating information on tale types and folklore motifs used in each chapter is found in the authors’ notes, and adults can point these out and find other examples of tales about people doing foolish things. The last chapter features a “lying contest” with old frenemy Meatball, who tells a tall tale. A generous font, amusing comic-book–style artwork, the stories themselves, and excellent notes add up to a book that can be thoroughly enjoyed by one child or easily acted out in a readers’ theater activity. Very old, very funny stories made evergreen thanks to the graphic format and inventive casting. (Graphic early reader. ages 6-8) "

“Mac and Mac are a couple of noodleheads, and the stars of Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss’s delightful collaboration Noodleheads See the Future. What is a noodlehead? A noodlehead is a fool, and as the authors explain, “tales of fools, also called ‘noodles’ or ‘noodleheads,’ have been told for as long as people have told stories.” Noodlehead stories appear in the traditions of many countries around the world, and the characters are often well known and beloved of the children in those cultures. They frequently share common traits across cultures too: an illogical view of the world, a tendency to take things literally to the point of absurdity, and a general good nature so that things always work out for the best for them. In Noodleheads See the Future, the stories are presented in a brief introduction and 3 chapters, each one corresponding to specific traditional motifs, as noted at the end of the book. Mac and Mac are literally portrayed as noodle-heads, elbow macaroni to be exact. In an overarching quest for their favorite food — cake — Mac and Mac cut firewood, have what may or may not be a near death experience, and inadvertently dig a garden for their mother. Along the way they have an encounter with a trickster Meatball who trades them some “magic” seeds … with unexpected results. Arnold, Hamilton, and Weiss make sure that Noodleheads See the Future is firmly rooted in traditional tales, evidenced in the substantial source notes at the end of the book. The real magic, however, is the enormously child-friendly graphic novel format, illustrated in Tedd Arnold’s signature style, that makes these timeless tales accessible to the very youngest readers. Children love stories in which they are smarter than the protagonist. The Noodleheads are going to be a hit!”

- American Folklore Society- Aesop Award Committee

School Library Journal says "Kids moving on from early readers, especially Fly Guy fans, may want to check out Noodlehead Nightmares, Tedd Arnold's new collaboration with Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss. In a goofy graphic novel for the chapter book set, Arnold brings his bubbly artwork to a pair of silly brothers with actual macaroni noodles for heads. "

To download an Educator's Guide click here. To read a Conversation with the Creators click here.

Our publisher has just issued a press release about the award. Click here to read it.

The Children's Book Council says ". . . Young readers will be highly engaged by the fools, tricksters, and clever characters who appear in these timeless stories."