Four farsighted mice get glasses — and a talking cat solves a family mystery — as the charmingly eccentric Mrs. Noodlekugel returns.
When Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor — and invites Nick and Maxine to come along! The mice ride on Mrs. Noodlekugel’s hat, while Mr. Fuzzface, her talking cat, has the indignity of riding in a carrier. Afterward, the hungry crew head to Dirty Sally’s Lunchroom, but the mice overdo their cheesecake and run out the door. Luckily a policeman is at the ready to help with the search — as is a rough-edged, yarn-spinning alley cat with a surprising connection to Mr. Fuzzface! It’s all a day in the life of Daniel Pinkwater’s whimsical characters, in a chapter-book series whose comical tone and cozy illustrations are sure to keep young readers coming back for more.
If Pinkwater’s first Mrs. Noodlekugel book didn’t persuade readers, the second one will: it’s Mrs. Noodlekugel’s matter-of-factly loopy world—we just live in it. ... Stower’s sly, sweet illustrations provide piquant punctuation for Pinkwater’s special brand of nonsense...
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A savory episode for noodle—er, newly independent or struggling readers.
—Kirkus Reviews
Clever, as always, Pinkwater’s quirky story with a touch of whimsy will amuse many readers.
—Booklist Online
Readers will appreciate the characters’ distinct personalities and the book’s wacky humor. Plenty of black-and-white illustrations bring every step of the group’s journey to life. Mrs. Noodlekugel’s fan base will undoubtedly continue to grow with this addition; her books will surely join the canon of must-read beginning chapter-book series.
—School Library Journal
