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Mr. Men #28
Mr. Clumsy
Mr. Clumsy has broken three alarm clocks this week. Three! He's just so clumsy: always walking into things and tripping over. He looks clumsy, too, don't you think?
32 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 1978
About the author
Roger Hargreaves
1,365 books383 followersRoger Hargreaves was a British cartoonist, illustrator and writer of children's books. He created the Mr. Men series, Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series, intended for young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with bold, brightly coloured illustrations, have sales of more than 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 27, 2018
Poor Mr. Clumsy. My nephew is very similar. I see why he relates so well to Mr. Clumsy. Again, I was told to read this to him. Roger really was a master of taking this simple emotion and turning it into a cute character kids relate to.
This story didn't do as much for me. It was good and well written. I'll keep reading.
This story didn't do as much for me. It was good and well written. I'll keep reading.
August 29, 2021
Mr. Clumsy is a character very close to my heart. I was a very clumsy child… and never grew out of it. Like Mr. Clumsy, if there’s something to drop, I will drop it. If there’s something to spill, I will spill it. If there’s is something to be folded, spindled or mutilated… well, you get the idea. My brother claims I put his guitars out of tune just by looking at them. (I’m pretty sure he’s lying, as I don’t have this affect on my bass.) Needless to say, this characteristic has not improved since my eyesight started failing in a rather serious manner!
One of the things I love about this book is that, unlike a lot of the other Mr. Men books, Mr. Clumsy’s nega-trait is never seen as something that can be solved with a typical Mr. Man-style intervention. He just is what he is and everyone accepts it, even if they’re not exactly enamoured with it. Awesome.
My next book: Black Panther vol. 9: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Part 4
One of the things I love about this book is that, unlike a lot of the other Mr. Men books, Mr. Clumsy’s nega-trait is never seen as something that can be solved with a typical Mr. Man-style intervention. He just is what he is and everyone accepts it, even if they’re not exactly enamoured with it. Awesome.
My next book: Black Panther vol. 9: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Part 4
July 15, 2018
Mr. Clumsy is very clumsy obviously. But mostly he is a poor decision maker.
Why oh why someone would take a can from the bottom part of a can stack?
Why oh why someone would take a can from the bottom part of a can stack?
April 3, 2021
We'd previously met Mr Clumsy earlier in the series, having tormented his cousin Mr. Fussy.
Originally it was quite fun seeing the opposite characteristics play off each other, though I felt that the gag had run it's course.
It doesn't really sustain itself here as the obnoxious fella continues to act the fool,
this time out and about in town.
As other reviews have mentioned it's jokes like picking a tin of soup from the bottom of the pyramid pile just seemed stupid and didn't really land.
I'll admit to finding the bread/letter mix up in the toaster to be quite amusing though.
Originally it was quite fun seeing the opposite characteristics play off each other, though I felt that the gag had run it's course.
It doesn't really sustain itself here as the obnoxious fella continues to act the fool,
this time out and about in town.
As other reviews have mentioned it's jokes like picking a tin of soup from the bottom of the pyramid pile just seemed stupid and didn't really land.
I'll admit to finding the bread/letter mix up in the toaster to be quite amusing though.
January 31, 2019
A Story of a Clutz
31 January 2019 – Mount Gambier
Honestly, I am surprised this guy hasn’t had a heap of law suits thrown his way considering how clumsy he is. The only reason I say this is because people these days seem to want to solve all of their problems with law suits, and also look for other people to blame. Well, this would become a bit of an issue for a poor clutz like Mr Clumsy who just can’t help himself when it comes to doing stuff because he either knocks things over, breaks them, or simply causes himself, and other people, countless numbers of injuries
.
I would be inclined to say that it is not his fault, but the thing is that he does know that he is an incredibly clumsy person, so in a sense should really be putting the extra effort into not breaking things that do not belong to him. As for his own possessions, well, I’d have to say that he would be a capitalist’s wet dream, namely because he goes through something like three alarm clocks in a week, and just as many radios in a month.
Well, at one point, he does manage to pour an entire jar of ink over the bank manager, but while we might laugh and act as if bank managers these days deserve such treatment (especially since there are a lot of people out there that would want to do such a thing on purpose), we need to remember when it was written, and back in the 60s and 70s, working in a bank wasn’t the high flying, million dollar a year type of job that it is today. Rather, it was a rather boring job that rather boring people did.
Interestingly, this book doesn’t really have any conclusions in the sense that Mr Clumsy comes to terms with his problems. It simply seems as if people just put up with him. Well, everybody with the exception of the farmer, who decides that instead of having some clutz come around and destroy his farm, he will simply do the helpful thing and perform a delivery service for him. Mind you, these days, in the age of Amazon and Uber Eats, you can pretty much get everything delivered to your door anyway.
Mind you, there is one question that is still bugging me, and that is what was written on the letter that he accidentally put in the toaster. I suspect it was just a bill, because that is all we seem to end up getting in the mail, no matter what era we happen to be living in (and the toaster is also where many of us pretty much want to put them).
31 January 2019 – Mount Gambier
Honestly, I am surprised this guy hasn’t had a heap of law suits thrown his way considering how clumsy he is. The only reason I say this is because people these days seem to want to solve all of their problems with law suits, and also look for other people to blame. Well, this would become a bit of an issue for a poor clutz like Mr Clumsy who just can’t help himself when it comes to doing stuff because he either knocks things over, breaks them, or simply causes himself, and other people, countless numbers of injuries
.
I would be inclined to say that it is not his fault, but the thing is that he does know that he is an incredibly clumsy person, so in a sense should really be putting the extra effort into not breaking things that do not belong to him. As for his own possessions, well, I’d have to say that he would be a capitalist’s wet dream, namely because he goes through something like three alarm clocks in a week, and just as many radios in a month.
Well, at one point, he does manage to pour an entire jar of ink over the bank manager, but while we might laugh and act as if bank managers these days deserve such treatment (especially since there are a lot of people out there that would want to do such a thing on purpose), we need to remember when it was written, and back in the 60s and 70s, working in a bank wasn’t the high flying, million dollar a year type of job that it is today. Rather, it was a rather boring job that rather boring people did.
Interestingly, this book doesn’t really have any conclusions in the sense that Mr Clumsy comes to terms with his problems. It simply seems as if people just put up with him. Well, everybody with the exception of the farmer, who decides that instead of having some clutz come around and destroy his farm, he will simply do the helpful thing and perform a delivery service for him. Mind you, these days, in the age of Amazon and Uber Eats, you can pretty much get everything delivered to your door anyway.
Mind you, there is one question that is still bugging me, and that is what was written on the letter that he accidentally put in the toaster. I suspect it was just a bill, because that is all we seem to end up getting in the mail, no matter what era we happen to be living in (and the toaster is also where many of us pretty much want to put them).
September 28, 2015
Ah, Mr Men and Little Miss, how wonderful you are!
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
September 20, 2017
I'm not sure Mr Clumsy is all together clumsy - I think sometimes he just makes poor decisions. Such as, not tying his shoelaces, growing his hair out to cover his eyes, and trying to take soup cans from the middle of the stack. His best decision by far was having a framed drawing of Walter the worm on his wall!
April 24, 2016
How can you not adore this scruffy character? I think he represents my existence. Recommended. Love Hargreaves.
January 31, 2024
Messy cunt does messy things with no progression, change, consequences or reflection. This book is everything wrong with western civilisation.
April 12, 2018
Fun little book.
July 18, 2025
Children found hysterical . I didn’t.
May 4, 2020
Another lovely family reading time, with another good book from Roger.
Read
January 15, 2026Mér finnst þessi sería eitthvað voðalega óskemmtileg
May 6, 2018
Dear Mr Hargreaves,
As a father of two small children, and as a former child myself, I have generally enjoyed your Mr Men series of books, notwithstanding the often unnecessarily verbose text, which makes some of them feel like novellas and inspires a sense of dread when I am asked to read three of them in succession before bedtime, and has led to my subconscious use of 79 words in this particular paragraph when 10 would clearly, obviously, and undoubtedly have sufficed.
However, that is neither here nor there. The reason for my letter is that I wish to complain about an unfair national stereotype perpetuated by your books.
From my repeated readings of the Mr Men canon, I have learnt that Mr Happy lives in Happyland, Mr Clever lives in Cleverland and Mr Nonsense lives in Nonsenseland. This makes sense, in the same way that Thais live in Thailand, Finns live in Finland and northern ire lives in Northern Ireland.
So, why does Mr Clumsy live in Australia?
That’s right, Mr Clumsy does not live in Clumsyland. He lives in Australia.
This, Mr Hargreaves, is nothing but offensive national stereotyping.
You introduce Mr Clumsy as a dishevelled, long-lost cousin of Mr Fussy. This boorish Australian layabout lobs on Mr Fussy’s doorstep and asks to stay. He appears unable, or perhaps unwilling, to comb his hair, tie his shoelaces, or engage in any of the other basic functions expected in a civilised society. When he later stars in his own book, Mr Clumsy is so dense that he puts a letter from the postman in the toaster and tries to read a piece of bread.
Which brings me to another point. I understand the word ‘clumsy’ to mean ‘awkward’, or ‘ungainly’, but you apparently think it means ‘idiotic’. This character is effectively ‘Mr Stupid’, but you clearly realised that introducing Mr Stupid from Australia would be crossing the line, so you softened his name while retaining his moronic nature. Spilling your beer while dropping a catch during a game of backyard cricket is clumsy Australian behaviour; toasting an envelope is simply inane.
Please understand, Mr Hargreaves, that although we recently had a prime minister who tried to eat an onion like it was an apple, and a deputy prime minister who was unaware that he was a citizen of New Zealand, we are not all idiots. I will admit that two of the four members of my household are unable to tie their shoelaces, but this is because they are aged one and two respectively. The fact that they are Australian is purely coincidental.
Perhaps political correctness had not yet gone mad when you introduced Mr Clumsy in 1976, but since then it has become certifiable. As such, I request that when the series is next reprinted, Mr Clumsy should come from Clumsyland rather than Australia. At the very least he should hold dual citizenship, which admittedly would preclude him from running for Australian parliament, but in any case we have enough oafish behaviour in that institution without adding Mr Clumsy to the mix.
I have been told, Mr Hargreaves, that you died 30 years ago, and I therefore understand that you may face certain difficulties in replying to my letter. Nevertheless, I shall await a response via the late mail.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Offended
http://dadreads.blogspot.com.au/2018/...
As a father of two small children, and as a former child myself, I have generally enjoyed your Mr Men series of books, notwithstanding the often unnecessarily verbose text, which makes some of them feel like novellas and inspires a sense of dread when I am asked to read three of them in succession before bedtime, and has led to my subconscious use of 79 words in this particular paragraph when 10 would clearly, obviously, and undoubtedly have sufficed.
However, that is neither here nor there. The reason for my letter is that I wish to complain about an unfair national stereotype perpetuated by your books.
From my repeated readings of the Mr Men canon, I have learnt that Mr Happy lives in Happyland, Mr Clever lives in Cleverland and Mr Nonsense lives in Nonsenseland. This makes sense, in the same way that Thais live in Thailand, Finns live in Finland and northern ire lives in Northern Ireland.
So, why does Mr Clumsy live in Australia?
That’s right, Mr Clumsy does not live in Clumsyland. He lives in Australia.
This, Mr Hargreaves, is nothing but offensive national stereotyping.
You introduce Mr Clumsy as a dishevelled, long-lost cousin of Mr Fussy. This boorish Australian layabout lobs on Mr Fussy’s doorstep and asks to stay. He appears unable, or perhaps unwilling, to comb his hair, tie his shoelaces, or engage in any of the other basic functions expected in a civilised society. When he later stars in his own book, Mr Clumsy is so dense that he puts a letter from the postman in the toaster and tries to read a piece of bread.
Which brings me to another point. I understand the word ‘clumsy’ to mean ‘awkward’, or ‘ungainly’, but you apparently think it means ‘idiotic’. This character is effectively ‘Mr Stupid’, but you clearly realised that introducing Mr Stupid from Australia would be crossing the line, so you softened his name while retaining his moronic nature. Spilling your beer while dropping a catch during a game of backyard cricket is clumsy Australian behaviour; toasting an envelope is simply inane.
Please understand, Mr Hargreaves, that although we recently had a prime minister who tried to eat an onion like it was an apple, and a deputy prime minister who was unaware that he was a citizen of New Zealand, we are not all idiots. I will admit that two of the four members of my household are unable to tie their shoelaces, but this is because they are aged one and two respectively. The fact that they are Australian is purely coincidental.
Perhaps political correctness had not yet gone mad when you introduced Mr Clumsy in 1976, but since then it has become certifiable. As such, I request that when the series is next reprinted, Mr Clumsy should come from Clumsyland rather than Australia. At the very least he should hold dual citizenship, which admittedly would preclude him from running for Australian parliament, but in any case we have enough oafish behaviour in that institution without adding Mr Clumsy to the mix.
I have been told, Mr Hargreaves, that you died 30 years ago, and I therefore understand that you may face certain difficulties in replying to my letter. Nevertheless, I shall await a response via the late mail.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Offended
http://dadreads.blogspot.com.au/2018/...
March 30, 2015
Think I’m right in stating that as a boy I had all the pre-1990 Mr Men books with the possible exception of “Mr Snow”. Looking at all the covers apart from the latter jogged my memory.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
November 11, 2014
Synopsis: "No collection is complete without the latest adorable additions to the ever-popular, always brimming with personality, Mr. Men and Little Miss family.
Even a normal day is a disaster with Mr. Clumsy. The only place he's safe is asleep in bed!"
My Review: The Mr. Men books seem to be a little longer than I remember, I always thought they were super simple and short but I guess that is an incorrect memory. Mr. Clumsy is a silly book and even Munchkin pointed out that his shoes were untied the whole time. We had a good giggle every time he ended up in a basket or bin upside down. It was fun, just a little too long to keep little ones attention.
Even a normal day is a disaster with Mr. Clumsy. The only place he's safe is asleep in bed!"
My Review: The Mr. Men books seem to be a little longer than I remember, I always thought they were super simple and short but I guess that is an incorrect memory. Mr. Clumsy is a silly book and even Munchkin pointed out that his shoes were untied the whole time. We had a good giggle every time he ended up in a basket or bin upside down. It was fun, just a little too long to keep little ones attention.
August 18, 2013
I absolutely loved these Mr Men and Little Miss books. I remember getting them from my granny every week. There was so much from these simple characters, I remember filling my little bookshelf with all these books making sure I had got them all in right order. I wish I still had these books but somehow most of them got lost with many house moves or my mum gave the rest away. If I ever have kids, I will make sure they get the chance to experience these wonderful, colourful books.
May 11, 2017
Mr. Clumsy is a man after my own heart. I can be quite the klutz sometimes as well. If there's someone in my family most likely to break something it will be me. That's why I love that he trips and breaks and lands in hampers, baskets, covered in sausages, etc. hilariously fun and perfectly accompanied by the pictures.
March 30, 2007
BEST
BOOK
EVER
James
BOOK
EVER
James
April 2, 2012
i think these books are so cute :)
July 7, 2013
Poor Mr. Clumsy, it's all out of his hands, poor guy, let's pray he will be different in the coming days ^_^
November 4, 2015
way funny!!!!
December 27, 2016
I did not like this book because I do not being clumsy. I also did not like this book because Mr. Clumsy was very clumsy.
September 12, 2017
I can relate to him. I'm not as bad as Mr. Clumsy, but if there's something to run into or trip over, I'll probably find it.
August 31, 2026
Oh gee, a book where a character goes shopping, and shenanigans ensue. Never seen that done before.... certainly not in this series.
Also, oh hey, it's that guy from that one other Mr. Men book that I read a while back. That's pretty cool that he showed up again...... although, honestly, I wasn't hoping that he would get his own book. I didn't like him then, and I still don't like him now, so this was a big ol' waste of time.
Book #127
Also, oh hey, it's that guy from that one other Mr. Men book that I read a while back. That's pretty cool that he showed up again...... although, honestly, I wasn't hoping that he would get his own book. I didn't like him then, and I still don't like him now, so this was a big ol' waste of time.
Book #127
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2020
6 year old says... He goes into Mr Meat's butchers shop and buys one sausages and gets tangled up. Then he goes to the grocer shop and gets some soup that he accidentally makes the cans fall over so I think she should learn to not be clumsy but I think he'd probably get clumsy about that and get it all wrong.
40 year old says... I love his moustache
40 year old says... I love his moustache
December 6, 2018
After having a run of Mr Men and Little Miss books a while back this year, I discovered a few more in the local library, this being the first of them, another classic tale from Hargreaves. Just love the Mr Men books.
November 3, 2019
Whoops! Somehow I managed to finish this charming little book. Of course I did. Mr. Clumsy is accident prone and I am not surprised if everyone avoided him or he went to bed hungry after supper. He needs Miss non-clumsy to take care of him.
March 27, 2018
Accidentally pushed the “buy now with 1 click” and bought this children’s story.
I thought it was kismet, so I read it.
I was wrong, very wrong.
I thought it was kismet, so I read it.
I was wrong, very wrong.
February 27, 2019
Funny, silly story about a very clumsy Mr. Love the colourful pictures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews