Mrs. Noodlekugel Series

“Hilarious. . . . The book is a lot like life, but with more bears, as well as mice in nightshirts. . . . Utterly, endearingly ridiculous.” — Kirkus Reviews

When their father decides to compete in the speed-knitting world championship, 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. When Drooly goes missing, the siblings must try to figure out where a big clumsy bear might go!

“Pinkwater works narrative magic within the grammatical confines of the early reader format.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

With signature wit and whimsy, the inimitable Daniel Pinkwater introduces an eccentric, endearing babysitter every child will wish they could have. Welcome to the world of Mrs. Noodlekugel, where felines converse and serve cookies and tea, vision-impaired mice join the party (but may put crumbs up their noses), and children in search of funny adventures are drawn by the warm smell of gingerbread and the promise of magical surprises.