Harry the Poisonous Centipede

Harry the Poisonous Centipede #1

by Lynne Reid Banks

Reissue into the First Modern Classic livery of this delightfully squirmy story starring Harry the Poisonous Centipede in a scary world of flying swoopers, furry biters and the dreaded Hoo-Mins! With wonderful humour and brilliant illustrations by award-winning artist Tony Ross, this is the perfect book for wriggly young readers.

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Middle Grade

160 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Lynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and been made into a film.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after the war was over. She attended St Teresa's School in Surrey. Prior to becoming a writer Banks was an actress, and also worked as a television journalist in Britain, one of the first women to do so. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960.
In 1962 Banks emigrated to Israel, where she taught for eight years on an Israeli kibbutz Yasur. In 1965 she married Chaim Stephenson, with whom she had three sons. Although the family returned to England in 1971 and Banks now lives in Dorset, the influence of her time in Israel can be seen in some of her books which are set partially or mainly on kibbutzim.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lmao this is the first 'proper' book I remember reading with total independence at school. The title half-popped into my head and I managed to find it. I remember thinking that the author really managed to make us 'Hoo-mins' seem scary, perhaps it wasn't that difficult... let's not go there!

[Uswah Hasanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoo-mans

[Qt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I've wanted to read this for a long time and thought it was cute. I might have liked it even more when I was little but I still enjoyed it.

[Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rediscovered childhood favourite. The descriptions of why centipede language is not pronounceable by humans have stuck in my head since I read it the first time - very happy to learn what book that came from.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: Specifically I am collecting this publisher's list under the title of "First Modern Classics" aimed at younger readers originating from the UK house. The titles on this list, which started in 2009, all by British authors, are a unique selection for North American readers, though a few international classics are included. Lynne Reid Banks is mostly known in NA for her Indian in the Cupboard series. I had heard of this book but never actually seen it.

Harry, his best friend George and his mother Belinda have got to be the only bugs in this world that I would ever call adorable. Banks manages to tell a tale of these centipedes in all their creepy crawly-ness, while at the same time creating characters the reader sympathizes with and roots for. There is one certain scene when I was utterly creeped out at the thought of these slithery insects from a "Hoo-Min" point of view while I was captured in the intense moment for Harry and George and whether they would escape with their lives.

An adorable story with lots of mini-adventures that lead up to a forewarned major climax. Banks tells this cute tale of centipede life keeping it light and fun for the youngest of listeners but also is able to impart a lot of genuine information about centipedes wholly within her storyline
and never crossing the line into giving a lesson. I really enjoyed the story finding the it exciting for the intended audience, fun and the characters lovable. Which is quite a feat since centipedes give me the willies just looking at pictures of them! Tony Ross' illustrations are plentiful and equally darling to match the text, making Harry an unforgettable character in children's literature.

Finally, an aspect of the "First Modern Classics" series I really like is first at the beginning there is a short paragraph by a famous author called "Why You'll Love this Book" which Ian Whybrow provides in this instance. Then at the back there is "More Than a Story" section with its own Table of Contents. This one includes 10 facts about centipedes, riddles, puzzles, a recipe, a craft and a "Are You Scared of Creepy Crawlies?" quiz.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to my daughters - ages 4 & 6. They both quite liked it. Nearly every chapter ended with a cliffhanger of sorts and it drove my daughters crazy when I put down the book without reading "one more chapter!"

As a child, I spent a couple of years living in a tropical country with poisonous centipedes. I was bitten a couple of times, once in bed in the middle of the night (!!), and was reluctantly amused by the centipedes' anthropomorphization. My daughters were much more sympathetic to the young centipedes escapades and scrapes than I was.

I recommend this for kids in the 4-8 age range.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventures of Harry the poisonous centipede, who befriends George, another centipede, learns how to swim and discovers the dangers of going up the 'down pipe' and faces the greatest danger of all: hoo-mins.

It isn't often a 'yukky' creature becomes the star of a book. While you have to remember to separate truth from fiction, this book does weave them together into an entertaining story.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry is a Poisonous Centipede and dosent really pay much attention to what peopl tell him.He's the fastes centipede and has extra legs like his mom.Read about his adventure.

You can get this book at Ms.Lacy libary.

I recomand this to any body who likes fatancy.

[Jeannette Baeza · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son (age 10) is currently reading this book. He cannot wait to log onto his reading app everyday to find out what happens in the adventures of Harry, George, and Belinda. This is a huge accomplishment, because trying to get him to read used to be a losing battle in my home.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a child, and I remember it fondly. So when I recalled that the library had it, I had to check it out. I got the whole series and I started with hardly any recollection of the actual story, and I once again fell in love with the centipedes that make up Harry’s world.

As we begin the story, we meet main character Harry, his mother Belinda, and his best friend George (who doesn’t have a mother but sometimes borrows Belinda). Harry and George have many adventures together, but there are some places they aren’t supposed to go, like the No-Top world where there are fierce creatures like Hairy Biters and Flying Swoopers. But the scariest creatures of all are the r two-legged Hoo-Mins!

After many adventures together, George and Harry have their biggest adventure of all. When the White-Choke comes down into their tunnels, they must go Up the dreaded Up-Pipe into the dwelling place of the Hoo-Mins! Will they ever come back down?

This book is a great read for children. It’s got great characters, a fun plot, and lots of funny language (Because after all, centipedes don’t know what we call things, now do they?). If you’re up for an adventure, this one will make you squirm with delight as you follow Harry, George, and Belinda through their adventures.

[Sam Agnew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry is a poisonous centipede who lives with his Mum Belinda, who dotes on him, affectionately calling him "best in my nest". You'd think Harry would be a total mummy's boy, but no! He sneaks up the Up-Pipe to the forbidden No-Top-World, despite Mum's warnings about the terrifying Hoo-Mins that live there. He's got a friend George who eggs him on, and together they're a handful! It's quite a fun book, really. The first time I read it, I was 7; I think it was even better back then.

[Jeanette Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book its one of my top 5

[Epiphany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book in 4th grade, and I loved it just as much as an adult as I did back then! A very clever and fun read.

[Tyra M Sosnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

[Nicholas Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long live the bravest centipede!

[Anjuna Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the whole series in Junior school. Managed to find it, what a book series.

[Izzy Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny story about a centipede who accidentally explores the human world and the troubles he gets into. This would be a brilliant book to read to my class.

[Maggie_qwerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff for the kids 6-10

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I remember reading as a child. Just as good now as it was then.

[.]

I think it was slow but funny.

[Bec D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. I loved it.

[Klara B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[Connor S Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think I would enjoy this book because I really hate insects and bugs, for the most part I really enjoyed the story of Harry's adventure!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, perfect for early readers who don’t mind bugs.

[Georgia]

What a book 😂

[Dusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one belongs on a shelf beside The Borrowers, The Mouse & the Motorcycle, & other stories that show you the world from much closer to the ground.

[Logan Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite his mother's warnings to stay close to their home deep inside the earth, Harry the centipede is anxious to visit the "no-top-world," where centipedes are "not the biggest thing around, by any means--or even the fastest!"
His mother's scary stories about "flying swoopers," "furry biters," and the dreaded "Hoo-mins" are not enough to stop the curious centipede from joining his mischievous friend, George, on forbidden upward. The two have some close calls with monster creatures, but manage to outwit their enemies before they started on their most dangerous journey of all: climbing up the very drain pipe that led Harry's unfortunate father to his untimely death. Banks (The Indian in the Cupboard), presents a slight, picture of Harry's home life and many perils on the earth surface.

I like this book a lot, because of the journey they go through.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't going to read this book as my 5th book from the Reading Promise Booklist because it didn't sound that interesting to me. Am so glad I gave it a try. It is a delightful book that not only taught me some interesting things about centipedes, but also about relationships. I feel kids (and adults!) will enjoy this book. Note: I was surprised to discover that the author of this book is the bestselling author of Indian in the Cupboard.

[Dree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute book about Harry, a young poisonous centipede. He and his friend George have adventures, much to Harry's mom's Belinda's chagrin.

I read this to my older son a few years ago, and now read it to my younger guy. Again, older son managed to listen to much of it.

The highlights: the descriptions of hoo-mins and Centipedish words.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A winner for young kids who are fascinated by poisonous or dangerous creatures. Harry is indeed a poisonous centipede, but with curiosity and the ability to get himself into a tight place similar to his audience. Perfect as a read aloud for 4 to 8 year olds.