Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2016 Many cultures have folktales and fables about fools and their silly exploits—often called noodlehead stories—and, based on these tales, Arnold, Hamilton, and Weiss have created their own comic versions starring two literal noodles, a pair of elbow-macaroni brothers named Mac and Mac. In their first story, Mac and Mac decide to sleep outdoors, but nighttime sounds scare them so much they tangle their feet together while trying to run, and they’re not sure whose feet are whose. Then, gazing hungrily at a pie on a windowsill, they have a dreaming contest—whoever has the best dream gets to eat the pie. Trickster Meatball outsmarts them, however, and gets the pie all to himself. Young children will enjoy the colorful panels and the Noodleheads’ foolish adventures, while the opening authors’ note (in small enough type that it’s easy to miss) can help teachers find the original stories for possible lesson plans. Arnold’s signature cartoonish style makes great use of comedic timing and slapstick humor, so kids will get a kick out of this even if they don’t catch on to its folklore origins. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.