Central Kansas Library System

The rules keep getting in the way of Noodle's fun. Rules for this, rules for that. There are so many rules! Can Noodle be convinced that rules are meant to help, not harm him?

Noodle always chooses to do the things he wants to do while never getting around to doing the things he NEEDS to do. Award-winning children's author Julia Cook uses Noodle to creatively highlight a conundrum all children struggle with and offers simple strategies to help them learn how to balance doing what needs to be done while still finding time for fun.

Noodle's really done it this time! What should have been a friendly competition among classmates turns sour after Noodle cheats his way to victory. He says he didn't really want to cheat but everyone has to once in a while, so what's the harm? Will Noodle get burned by his own deception, or will he muster the courage to confess to his trickery? Young readers will learn a valuable lesson about the cost of cheating while enjoying a few laughs.

Noodle's attitude is alienating everyone around him. Can he let go of his angst and try to find the brighter side of life? With help from a teacher and his mom, Noodle learns how to turn his 'have tos' into 'get tos' and his baditude into gratitude!--Publisher.