Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice
Four farsighted mice take center stage in the second installment of  the Mrs. Noodlekugel series. Along with the mice, Mrs. Noodlekugel, Mr. Fuzzface (the talking cat), and children Maxine and Nick are having tea one afternoon. When the mice make a terrible mess of their tea table,  Mrs. Noodlekugel declares it’s their bad eyesight. So off they go to the oculist for a fitting of mice-sized glasses. It’s rare to find a subplot with any real substance in a short novel for younger readers. However, Pinkwater has provided one that involves the search for Mr. Fuzzface’s missing father. Clever, as always, Pinkwater’s quirky story with a touch of whimsy will amuse many readers. Grades K-2. --Martha Edmundson