Daniel Pinkwater's Mrs. Noodlekugel lives in a "cute little house" with a "cute little backyard". This is not so much out of the ordinary. However, all this domestic cuteness is surrounded by high rise apartment buildings. Nick and Maxine live with their parents in one of the numerous apartments in one of those tall buildings. Maxine notices the house and backyard from her window. As most city kids presented with green open space would, they decide to figure out a way to get down there. They ask the janitor who explains that the house and yard belong to Mrs. Noodlekugel and you get there by going through the boiler room. But he emphasizes that they should not tell their parents. Later that day, their parents insist that they are not to bother the nice old lady who lives in the house in the back. They are not to go into her yard, and especially not onto her porch. So, of course, Maxine and Nick defy their parents. They must go and see the house, yard, and old lady, for themselves.
They are met by the delightfully kooky Mrs. Noodlekugel , her talking cat Mr. Fuzzface, and four nearly-blind mice. After the kids willingly fess up to their parents about their visit to Mrs. Noodlekugel, they learn that she is their new babysitter. Their parents have used the oldie-but-goodie trick of reverse psychology. The kids go back the next day to bake cookies with Mrs. Noodlekugel. But baking cookies with Mrs. Noodlekugle turns out to be anything but ordinary.
Mrs. Noodlekugel is a silly and simple story that was easy for AB to follow. It is a great book for kids who are transitioning from easy readers into chapter books. Adam Stower's illustrations were enjoyable, especially his
depiction of Mrs. Noodlekugel as a plump grandmotherly type with a polka dot apron, striped socks and red sneakers. What kid wouldn't want to hang out with someone like that all day?
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