(3) K-3 Illustrated by Louis Thomas. When a cold wind starts blowing in the mountains, a (nearsighted) man named Silli sets out to round up some sheep, hoping to gather wool for a sweater. The boulderlike "sheep" he finds are immovable, however, so Silli carries them down the mountain ("They were very heavy"). Problems (and clues) ensue--"Their wool was as hard as stone"--but Silli improvises and finds a way to work with what he's got. The deadpan text is accompanied by illustrations that show how silly Silli's predicament is.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tedd Arnold. Noodlehead brothers Mac and Mac are forced by their mother to go outside and learn something. They try their hands at fishing when they discover a rod but are bamboozled repeatedly (including by themselves). Over three humorous, comics-style chapters, the goofy yet lovable Noodleheads' ideas are as surprising as they are misguided. Authors' notes link each exploit to an original story source.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(3) K-3 Translated by Saul Endor. When the titular king spies "something" (a red seed) on the ground, he jails it. To his chagrin, many days later he spots "something else" (a flower) blooming where he left the something. Like a medieval Monty Python character, the king is a lovable, laughable lunkhead. Spanish author-illustrator Guridi's comical iterations of the overblown, undersized king stand out against broken, softly sketched outlines of the kingdom of nothing.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tedd Arnold. Foolish Noodleheads Mac and Mac (Noodlehead Nightmares) hope their mother will bake them a cake. While searching for oven firewood over the course of three easy-reader chapters, they are tricked, bamboozled, and outsmarted. The brothers' silliness, wordplay, and comics format are engaging, but the pacing and the connection between scenarios feel forced. An author's note links each exploit to an original story source.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall

(4) K-3 Mac and Mac are "noodleheads"--childlike creatures with empty macaroni noggins, comically rendered with expressive bugged-out eyes--who share adventures and nightmares while seeking ways to avoid making their beds. This graphic easy reader, divided into three short chapters, uses silly dialogue and goofy illustrations to appeal to young readers. However, the shout-outs to fool-centric folktales range from confusing to unnoticeable.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) YA Illustrated by Bob Lea. Armed with his father's jester costume and caravan, teenage half-elf Sebastian sets out to find a job. On the way, he's beset by wild animals--and wilder men--and rescues a princess, aided by his talking buffalope and a "hip-high" warrior. Though the plot offers few surprises, the straightforward writing and snappy humor are entertaining. Occasional full-page drawings illustrate the action.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) YA Overworked and underappreciated, jester Conrad longs to be free of his master. He runs off, accompanied by his (disguised) servant girlfriend. Medieval lingo abounds (this jester, it seems, never stops performing), which will tire all but the most devoted Renaissance Faire–goer, but the offbeat perspective may interest genre fans.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(2) K-3 Young prince Ernest wants to be a jester. His extremely serious parents, the king and queen, don't get it. How can he think about humor when a three-headed dragon is threatening the kingdom? But when Ernest comes "face-to-face-to-face-to-face" with the dragon, his comedic tendencies save his life and restore peace to the land. The energetic illustrations extend the well-paced joke, and the silliness is carried through to the punch line.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2003