Noodleheads Find Something Fishy

August 15, 2018
The macaroni noodle duo returns for their third adventure--fishing! Upon finding a discarded "fish stick" (aka fishing pole), noodleheads Mac and Mac decide to bring it home. Unfortunately, the "stick" can't fit between two trees on either side of the path when carried horizontally, so one of the siblings breaks it in two. The pair's bright outlook leads them to think they can now catch twice as many fish, but, clearly, they have much to learn about fishing. So the next day, the pasta pals head to water to try out the sport. After the duplicitous Meatball tricks the two out of their lunches (and one of their coins), the noodleheads doze off, wake from their nap to find a boat, and board it. But the boat doesn't move very far because the anchor line is too short. And, alas, the "biggest fish ever, ever, ever" takes their bait and swims away. As with other titles in the series, the two don't quite achieve their goal, but they do come away with some valuable lessons. Readers will come away with plenty of laughs. The introduction and three short chapters are filled with brightly colored comics panels in Arnold's signature art style, inviting in newly emergent readers and fans of Fly Guy alike. As always, the authors' notes explain the origins behind each folktale-inspired scenario. Fans won't want to miss the boat on this one. (Graphic early reader. 5-9)

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January 1, 2019
Noodlehead brothers Mac and Mac are forced by their mother to go outside and learn something. They try their hands at fishing when they discover a rod but are bamboozled repeatedly (including by themselves). Over three humorous, comics-style chapters, the goofy yet lovable Noodleheads' ideas are as surprising as they are misguided. Authors' notes link each exploit to an original story source.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2018

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

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