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Mrs. Noodlekugel #3
Mrs. Noodlekugel and Drooly the Bear
In a wonderfully loopy third episode, Nick and Maxine are surprised to meet Captain Noodlekugel, back from the sea with a somewhat untrainable bear.
When their father decides to compete to be speed-knitting champion of the world, Nick and Maxine are happy to stay with their babysitter, Mrs. Noodlekugel, along with her talking cats and four mice who wear glasses. What they don’t expect is a dripping-wet, whiskered man in the kitchen the next morning! Captain Noodlekugel has left his seafaring life to train animals for the circus, and he’s even brought with him a hefty bear named Drooly for practice. But whenever he tries to teach Drooly to dance, the bear wobbles and falls asleep on the tulips. When Drooly goes missing, the siblings must try to figure out where a big clumsy bear might go!
When their father decides to compete to be speed-knitting champion of the world, Nick and Maxine are happy to stay with their babysitter, Mrs. Noodlekugel, along with her talking cats and four mice who wear glasses. What they don’t expect is a dripping-wet, whiskered man in the kitchen the next morning! Captain Noodlekugel has left his seafaring life to train animals for the circus, and he’s even brought with him a hefty bear named Drooly for practice. But whenever he tries to teach Drooly to dance, the bear wobbles and falls asleep on the tulips. When Drooly goes missing, the siblings must try to figure out where a big clumsy bear might go!
96 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2015
About the author
Daniel Pinkwater
143 books430 followersDaniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 28, 2023
The children really like these.
November 22, 2015
Age: 2nd-3rd grade
Animals: Cats, mice, bear
Transitional Reader
A series of short story books that easily weave together into one longer book will keep kids hooked and invested in the continuing adventures of Nick and Maxine. Repetition of key character traits and plot points are paired with the introduction of two new characters: Mr. Noodlekugel and Drooly the Bear. The illustrations are wonderful black and white illustrations that perfectly highlight key moments and humor presented through the text on the page.
Animals: Cats, mice, bear
Transitional Reader
A series of short story books that easily weave together into one longer book will keep kids hooked and invested in the continuing adventures of Nick and Maxine. Repetition of key character traits and plot points are paired with the introduction of two new characters: Mr. Noodlekugel and Drooly the Bear. The illustrations are wonderful black and white illustrations that perfectly highlight key moments and humor presented through the text on the page.
March 15, 2016
Creative, but lacking story line
November 27, 2020
Everything just seems to be base-level, as if Pinkwater just did what was absolutely necessary and nothing more. The names, for example, seem to just be ones that came to him on the spot (i.e. Nick, Maxine, Fuzzface, Oldface, Momface, Drooly). It may seem more charming than discrediting since it’s a children’s book, but it’s still not as good as it could be and that’s ultimately what bothers me the most about these books.
The art seems to be inconsistent. Some drawings are darker in color and more detailed than the others that are lighter and not detailed much at all. This is quite bothersome, at least from my point of view. Again, it feels like a case of Pinkwater, and Stower, in this case, just doing the bare minimum because it’s a children’s book.
The writing does feel incomplete. I keep on telling myself that it’s a book for children so of course the language isn’t super fluent, but it’s more than that. It feels like you’ve come into the conversation halfway through every time a conversation is had, even though you’ve been there the whole time.
The way these books end feels abrupt, especially this one. With it being the last in the series, the way it ended feels very out of place. Possibly it wasn’t meant to be the last, but even if I take that into account, the ending is still very abrupt and seemingly out of nowhere.
I will say that this series was cute and quick to get through (quick reads to help with that goodreads goal!), but that’s really all it has going for it.
Don’t think I’d ever recommend any of these. I don’t think I could, knowing how much parts of them bothered me.
The art seems to be inconsistent. Some drawings are darker in color and more detailed than the others that are lighter and not detailed much at all. This is quite bothersome, at least from my point of view. Again, it feels like a case of Pinkwater, and Stower, in this case, just doing the bare minimum because it’s a children’s book.
The writing does feel incomplete. I keep on telling myself that it’s a book for children so of course the language isn’t super fluent, but it’s more than that. It feels like you’ve come into the conversation halfway through every time a conversation is had, even though you’ve been there the whole time.
The way these books end feels abrupt, especially this one. With it being the last in the series, the way it ended feels very out of place. Possibly it wasn’t meant to be the last, but even if I take that into account, the ending is still very abrupt and seemingly out of nowhere.
I will say that this series was cute and quick to get through (quick reads to help with that goodreads goal!), but that’s really all it has going for it.
Don’t think I’d ever recommend any of these. I don’t think I could, knowing how much parts of them bothered me.
August 5, 2018
Aha! While I've been off paying attention elsewhere, Daniel Pinkwater has started up a new series. When I picked this up at the library, I had no idea there was more than one Mrs. Noodlekugel book, and it really wasn't anything I needed to know to enjoy the story. This is not the best of Daniel Pinkwater, but if you like the flavor, this is a nice slice.
Gauged for early readers (a step up from The Cat in the Hat ), this would be a pleasant bedtime story to read aloud over the course of two or three nights or, as in my case, a perfectly satisfactory whimsical 20 minutes for a grownup reader.
Gauged for early readers (a step up from The Cat in the Hat ), this would be a pleasant bedtime story to read aloud over the course of two or three nights or, as in my case, a perfectly satisfactory whimsical 20 minutes for a grownup reader.
January 8, 2019
Their parents are out of town, so Nick and Maxine spend a few days with Mrs. Noodlekugel, their baby sitter. And who should come to visit but her long lost husband Captain Noodlekugel, who has decided to leave the sea--he keeps getting lost--and take up animal training. He's even brought home a bear to practice on. But either he's a terrible trainer or Drooly is too sleepy to be trained. Things don't seem to be working out, until Captain Noodlekubel gets a new idea.
January 18, 2019
A wonderful, wonderful simple book. I laughed out loud with delight at every possible moment: the characters are silly enough for a laugh, and the illustrations are magically cute. The four mice are my favorite. Oldface the cat is such fun to read. I think I'll be doing this one out loud with my second graders. Highly recommend this as a beginning chapter book.
September 9, 2017
Mmm... vegetable cake with mushrooms for dinner, and chocolate drop soup for dessert. Emulate the absurd Mr. Pinkwater! Have fun with your food!
But do not emulate Mr. Noodlekugel. I found this entry of the series singularly unsatisfying.
But do not emulate Mr. Noodlekugel. I found this entry of the series singularly unsatisfying.
July 15, 2022
This was the final book in the series. It was more substantial than the previous 2 , but it ended with a cliff hanger. You get to meet Mr. Noodlekugel, but it glosses over him. But, more good stuff with the nice n the children. The bear was ok. Wanted more with Captain Noodle.
January 26, 2026
teddy was disappointed when this one ended but i didn't enjoy it. no real plot and the ending felt much too abrupt. plus by the end of the series i got really annoyed with all the lazy naming lol like come on "oldface" and "momface" for a cat named fuzzface's parents?? ugh lol
February 28, 2017
Mrs. Noodlekugel's husband comes home from sea with plans to train a bear. Funny and silly things happen.
April 18, 2018
A silly read aloud with Sullivan (kindergarten) we both really love those books! Especially that the cat "fuzzface" talks 🤣
June 3, 2019
The main characters are picturesque, nice and touching, but the story underdelivers because the bear only appears at the end and does not do anything relevant.
April 10, 2023
I loved this series and am sorry to see it end. It was quirky and funny. Loved all the characters but especially loved Mrs Noodlekugel
June 8, 2023
Not as good as the first two. Hopefully there is more.
September 19, 2023
A few quirks that had the flavor of Pinkwater. Mostly so-so.
April 16, 2025
cute not totally for me tho
February 17, 2017
My eight year old and I read this together. Neither is us were too impressed. The storyline was somewhat strange and then the book abruptly ended.
February 1, 2016
Probably my least favorite of the three Mrs. Noodlekugel books introduces Captain Noodlekugel and Drooly a bear that he bought for the price of the raft he was floating on after he became shipwrecked.
Nick and Max are sent to stay with Mrs. Noodlekugel while their dad competes in a speed knitting competition (I did really like that detail) and his mother cheers him on. They help Mrs. Noodlekugel by putting the four mice into their nightshirts (with a funny explanation of why mice who normally wear nothing at all need nightshirts). Then an unexpected visitor arrives.
The Captain, tired of being lost at sea, has decided to make his living on land as an animal training instead, but things don’t go well. Despite his best efforts he can’t get Drooly to learn tricks to become a circus bear, so instead they end up going back to sea with Drooly acting as Captain Noodlekugel’s first mate.
There were a few bits that seemed a little off in this one to me, for example the scene where Captain Noodlekugel buys the bear from an “Inuit Man” for the price of driftwood and a fish. Although these Noodlekugel books are for the most part charming and amusing they lack some of the depth of his stories for slightly older grades, which is a shame.
Nick and Max are sent to stay with Mrs. Noodlekugel while their dad competes in a speed knitting competition (I did really like that detail) and his mother cheers him on. They help Mrs. Noodlekugel by putting the four mice into their nightshirts (with a funny explanation of why mice who normally wear nothing at all need nightshirts). Then an unexpected visitor arrives.
The Captain, tired of being lost at sea, has decided to make his living on land as an animal training instead, but things don’t go well. Despite his best efforts he can’t get Drooly to learn tricks to become a circus bear, so instead they end up going back to sea with Drooly acting as Captain Noodlekugel’s first mate.
There were a few bits that seemed a little off in this one to me, for example the scene where Captain Noodlekugel buys the bear from an “Inuit Man” for the price of driftwood and a fish. Although these Noodlekugel books are for the most part charming and amusing they lack some of the depth of his stories for slightly older grades, which is a shame.
August 16, 2015
This is the third book in Daniel Pinkwater's Mrs Noodlekugel series with illustrations by Adam Stower. I wanted to like this book more, but it seemed to be missing a bit of the magic of the other two. It left me wanting more. Perhaps there will be a fourth book with further adventures of Drooly?Or maybe a timid giant bear just wasn't enough in a series that has talking cats and mice that wear spectacles? In this installment, Maxine and Nick are left with Mrs Noodlekugel for four days while their parents go off to a speed knitting competition. While they are with Mrs Noodlekugel, her husband, who has been lost a sea, returns home with a giant bear which he wants to train so he can join the circus. My issues with this book is that the book ends before the Nick and Maxine parent's return from Ohio. What happens on the other two nights of their stay? Does their Dad win the knitting competition? There were just too many questions, and frankly not enough adventure. Still, the book does have its moments. It is written by the master, Daniel Pinkwater, after all.
November 11, 2015
Mrs. Noodlekugel books are great--full of interesting characters and dry humor. Most of the book seems completely plausible--two children need to go to a babysitter for a week because their parents will be out of town. Why are they going out of town? So the dad can compete in a speed knitting competition! (Still plausible, but a little wacky.)
Once they get to Mrs. Noodlekugel's house, things get even more odd. Living with her are two cats and four mice--all of whom talk. Captain Noodlekugel shows up with a drooly bear that he attempts to train (although the bear seems more interested in smashing flowers than doing tricks).
Large print and hilarious illustrations make this book a perfect transition for beginning chapter book readers, or families looking for a short read-aloud with lots of character.
Once they get to Mrs. Noodlekugel's house, things get even more odd. Living with her are two cats and four mice--all of whom talk. Captain Noodlekugel shows up with a drooly bear that he attempts to train (although the bear seems more interested in smashing flowers than doing tricks).
Large print and hilarious illustrations make this book a perfect transition for beginning chapter book readers, or families looking for a short read-aloud with lots of character.
December 15, 2016
Nick and Maxine's parents are off to Cleveland for a knitting competition, so they get to stay with Mrs. Noodlekugel for a few days. The siblings have had her as a babysitter, but never stayed so long with her before. They discover new things, like dressing mice for bed, vegetable cake, and when Mrs. Noodlekugel's sea captain husband returns home with a bear, they learn it is not easy to train bears.
A somewhat zany couple of days that is pretty unpredictable in what will pop up next, except you know it will be unusual. I can see little readers finding these adventures a hoot. One of Mrs. Noodlekugel's cats has poor grammar (blamed on his learning English from sailors) and may throw some young readers in that he doesn't follow English language patterns.
A somewhat zany couple of days that is pretty unpredictable in what will pop up next, except you know it will be unusual. I can see little readers finding these adventures a hoot. One of Mrs. Noodlekugel's cats has poor grammar (blamed on his learning English from sailors) and may throw some young readers in that he doesn't follow English language patterns.
January 13, 2017
This was my first Mrs. Noodlekugel book, and I found it very odd. My daughter (7) LOVED it. I was the perfect read aloud book for her. About halfway through the book, I found myself wondering, "When is Drooly the Bear going to show up?" But, it wasn't until the bottom of p. 45 that a bear was first mentioned. Around the same time, I found out that there's a Mrs. Noodlekugel in the picture.
One of the characters (Oldface) did not have good grammar. As a mother, I actually appreciated this. It forced my daughter to pay better attention to what was written instead of just reading what she thought would be written next.
Overall, I think this is a good book for a reader who is just starting to read chapter books.
One of the characters (Oldface) did not have good grammar. As a mother, I actually appreciated this. It forced my daughter to pay better attention to what was written instead of just reading what she thought would be written next.
Overall, I think this is a good book for a reader who is just starting to read chapter books.
June 20, 2015
Mrs. Noodlekugel is the perfect babysitter. Her house is hidden behind an apartment building and has an air of mystery about it. Her pets are highly unusual, two talking cats and four blind mice. Whether bedtime or mealtime, Nick and Maxine are kept on their toes as they never know what will happen next. Then the most unexpected thing happens, Captain Noodlekugel arrives after being lost at sea. He brings with him yet another odd pet, a drooling bear. Pinkwater is a master of quirk and these intermediate chapter books are sure to entertain anyone 1st grade and up. The black and white illustrations are a charming companion to the story.
September 20, 2015
Another okay book. Early reader level text with lots of illustrations. The characters seem to have a lot of potential, but the plot just doesn't go anywhere. Nick and Maxine are to spend the weekend with their neighbor, Mrs. Noodlekugel while their parents travel to the speed-knitting competition. They discover that Mrs. Noodlekugel actually has a husband, who has been out to sea. He comes back with a bear that he hopes to train. After the bear completely destroys the yard, he decides to take the bear back to see. There is no return of the parents, and no word of how the father fared in the knitting competition.
June 26, 2015
Who knew Mrs. Noodlekugel had a husband? In the third Mrs. Noodlekugel chapter book, we meet two more delightful characters, Captain Noodlekugel, the captain who always gets lost at sea, and a huge bear named Drooly. Captain Noodlekugel acquired Drooly while floating shipwrecked on a piece of wood. He traded his piece of wood, for Drooly and the canoe an Innuit man was traveling on. Easy to read and full of lovely ink illustrations, readers will welcome the next over the top adventure for brother and sister team Nick and Maxine.
June 27, 2015
I have to tell you that I have no read the other books in this series. It's got a good format for kids looking for a first chapter book. The pictures are cute, cute, cute. It had a lot of potential to be funny, but I didn't find it to be funny. I am not going to go out of my way to recommend this to kids any time soon.
September 1, 2015
Another cute installment in this series. Perfect, quick read for children. Not much happened in this story though and there was more opportunity for hi-jinx with the bear since the children in the story still had 2-3 more days left to spend at Mrs. Noodlekugel's house.
August 26, 2016
Can't beat Daniel Pinkwater. All the kids I know are getting this for Christmas. His books all have such a nice old-fashioned feel - remind me of my childhood and my grandparents - while at the same time being totally crazy and full of action and adventure.
June 12, 2015
The continuing adventures! Love this series. Perfect for beginning readers. Madam polished it off yesterday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews