Noodlehead Nightmares

January 4, 2016
Arnold (the Fly Guy series) teams up with the husband-and-wife storytelling/performing duo of Hamilton and Weiss for a trio of silly, sleep-centric tales drawn from the rich folkloric tradition of the fool (a detailed opening note delineates the themes and motifs that inspired each story). A pair of literal noodleheads—two macaroni-shaped brothers both named Mac—fumble their way through a spooky night sleeping in the backyard, get tricked out of a freshly baked apple pie, and devise a plan to get out of making their beds forever in crisply delineated vignettes. The Noodleheads’ goofy schemes and over-the-top reactions to their situations are sure to elicit giggles as the stories unfold in comics-style panels (“I’ll eat the pie and you eat the pan,” suggests one of the Macs in the second tale). Arnold employs some of his signature visual flourishes to great effect, including bug-eyed characters and an in-your-face palette. While the third story gets a little convoluted as one of the Macs suffers nightmares while using a wooden box for a pillow, the punchy storytelling and all-around goofiness will entertain emerging readers and graphic novel fans. Ages 6–10.

January 1, 2016
Anthropomorphic noodles worry and fret over a series of bedtimes and bad dreams. Mac and Mac are two noodleheads, literally: they are noodle-shaped boys with nothing inside their heads. As might be expected, the two Macs are not particularly bright, and consequently they get into all types of goofy gaffes. The tubular tots initially decide to sleep outside because they hate making their beds, despite their mother's bribe of a pie. Nighttime sounds scare them so much their legs tangle comically, and ultimately they go back inside. At least now they get pie. However, mischievous Meatball is also out for their confection--and gets it. Finally, one of the Macs loses his pillow and tries to compensate for its loss by bringing all sorts of odd objects--like a wooden chest and some food--into bed with him, with disastrous results. Funny nightmares punctuate each episode. Short chapters with large, brightly hued panels and spacious speech bubbles make this an easy choice for emerging readers. Fans of Arnold's previous work, particularly his Fly Guy series, will recognize his trademark artistic style and gravitate toward this. Opening notes in microscopic print explain the folk origins of each short chapter. Endlessly wacky; fast-moving antics and incessant fretting that would make Chicken Little look mellow give this familiar topic a fresh feel. (Graphic early reader. 5-9)

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September 1, 2016

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, referred to as "noodle" tales, 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. 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 this colorful cartoon, there is no underlying message or lesson; the book is purely meant for entertainment. The easy-to-read dialogue is ideal for new readers. Fallacy, exaggerated gestures, and slapstick are the main techniques used to elicit quick laughs. VERDICT This modern take on the foolish folktale is full of goofy humor; great fun for newly independent readers and graphic novel newbies.-Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

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