Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Nick and Maxine have a new babysitter -- the eccentric Mrs. Noodlekugel -- who lives in the funny little house behind their drab high-rise apartment building along with her feline butler, Mr. Fuzzface, and four farsighted mice.

When Mrs. Noodlekugel's four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor -- and invites Nick and Maxine to come along!

A bear continues to paint what he likes despite criticism from two passing gentlemen.

Inspired by a movie plot, Morty and Ray paint pictures of each other and then do mean things at school to see if their portraits will become ugly.