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The whimsical, rhyming world of Normal Noodle, Sally Stroodle, and their children— Ricky Rockadoodle and Briana Brainy Broodle—returns with another adventure full of silliness, absurdity, and intergalactic interference. Picking up after the events of the first book in the series, Grumpy Grimy Groodleman is upset over how the Snoodle vehicles have completely driven out the need for his business selling Groodlemobiles. When Evil Kidoodle comes from the planet Zoodle to Earth to meet with Grumpy Grimy Groodleman, he brings a plan to trick Ricky and Briana into eating some modified cake that will sap their intelligence. Seeing an opportunity to get back at the family that ruined his business and an opportunity to bring the Groodlemobile back to prominence, Grumpy Grimy wastes no time in agreeing to help out this evil alien invader.
Overhearing this plan, Grumpy Grimy’s two children (Frimpy Frumpy Froodle and Whimpy Whiny Woodle) know that it should be stopped, but they’re not the heroic, courageous types, and they have to decide if they can really step up to help after all. Before they can intervene, Ricky and Briana eat the tainted cake, and immediately, their family and teachers recognize that something is not right but have no idea what it could be. It’s up to Frimpy Frumpy and Whimpy Whiny to take the bold step to unveil what their father agreed to and offer their help to put a stop to the plot of Evil Kidoodle. Needing to travel to Planet Zoodle in order to save the two children, the heroes must make an attempt to negotiate peace with this alien world in order to save their home.
Fully illustrated in a cartoon style with comic book panels, this silly and humorous story will surely tickle children’s funny bones and give them lots of details to pore over and hunt for in each of the picture-filled pages. While much attention is given to making this tale as wacky and zany as possible, there is still a cohesive, structured story to follow throughout and even a valuable moral about standing up to do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself, even if that just means telling someone else who can be more directly assistive. Readers of the first book will fall right in line with the characters they met and laughed along with, but a considerable recap and retelling of that book’s events is also included here, meaning that everyone is invited to check out this story.
The silly, sci-fi environment and alliterative, rhyming, bouncing prose will bring to mind images of Dr. Seuss and even the sort of chaotic energy of the Willy Wonka stories but are elements of this wholly original and imaginative journey. This work is vibrant and unafraid to make a funny face or elicit a simple giggle on its own identity. Readers should check their seriousness at the front cover so that they can fully enjoy everything this title has to offer. The Noodleham universe continues to grow and bring back entertaining characters, and readers can fully expect more adventures featuring this same level of exuberance to find their way to a bookshelf near them. Whether young or just young at heart, the sense of humor and spirit of adventure in this book will leave audiences smiling all the way through.
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