What do you think?
Rate this book
Horrid Henry #1
Hirmus Henry
Henry on hirmus. Seda ütlesid kõik, isegi tema ema. Henry näppab, Henry lükkab, Henry tõukab ja näpistab. Isegi tema kaisuloom, härra Murdja hoiab temast igal võimalusel eemale. Võid välja mõelda ükskõik, millise hirmsa teo, mis pähe tuleb. Henry on seda kindlasti teinud.
Hirmsa Henry hirmsad teod nüüd lisaks multifilmile ka juturaamatus!
Samast sarjast on ilmunud ka
„Hirmus Henry ja salaselts"
"Hirmus Henry äratab surnuid"
"Hirmus Henry ja jõle lumememm"
Hirmsa Henry hirmsad teod nüüd lisaks multifilmile ka juturaamatus!
Samast sarjast on ilmunud ka
„Hirmus Henry ja salaselts"
"Hirmus Henry äratab surnuid"
"Hirmus Henry ja jõle lumememm"
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
246 people are currently reading
2696 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Simon
386 books205 followersFrancesca Simon grew up in California and attended both Yale and Oxford Universities, where she specialised in Medieval Studies. How this prepared her to write children’s books she cannot imagine, but it did give her a thorough grounding in alliteration.
She then threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). After her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time. One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular HORRID HENRY series, which has now sold over twelve million copies.
Francesca won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman. HORRID HENRY is published in 24 countries and is also an animated CITV series. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.
She then threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). After her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time. One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular HORRID HENRY series, which has now sold over twelve million copies.
Francesca won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman. HORRID HENRY is published in 24 countries and is also an animated CITV series. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
August 9, 2012
I'm still on my search for the boy version of Junie B. Jones. This ain't it. I don't like the language, I don't like the parents, I don't like the kids. The stories are kinda funny, but overall don't send any kind of a good message to kids. Mostly being "horrid" pays off, which I don't think is a great lesson to teach. At least Junie B. has a good heart and ultimately means well. Henry is just a jerky little kid with jerky parents who yell, pick favorites, don't discipline and are all-around "horrid" themselves. Pass.
June 20, 2009
Naughty bad little boys are the joy of the sometimes naughty, often good little readers. There's the vicarious thrill of reading about a kid who's bad, knows it, and still goes through with behavior not always on the up and up. In America, we have our fair share of these fellows. Now Rotten Ralph and Horrible Harry have a challenger to their bad behavior based throne. From England comes Horrid Henry, the boy who will gleefully ruin a dance performance, torture his perfect little brother, sabotage a family outing, and generally act in a rather naughty manner unless caught and told to do otherwise. And even then he'll probably still continue. He may be one of the least charming fellows you, the adult, will ever meet. And your children? The first time he throws someone else's jacket in the mud your kids will be his, heart and soul. For those parents who have complained that Junie B. Jones is too much of a handful for their kids, steer clear of Horrid Henry. He's funny, he's nasty, and he's a hard one to duplicate, that's for certain.
In four stories Henry wavers between being merely bad to downright awful. "Horrid Henry's Perfect Day" describes a single 24-hour period when Henry vows to be just as perfect as his annoying little angel-like brother, Perfect Peter. What he fails to predict, however, is how quickly this disturbs and unnerves his entire family. "Horrid Henry's Dance Class" tells the tale of Henry's attempts to stomp to his own beat in dance class, and how it eventually becomes the undoing of his recital. In "Horrid Henry and Moody Margaret" we meet Henry's match in the form of the girl next door who won't budge an inch when it comes to playing backyard games. And finally in "Horrid Henry's Holiday", Henry and Peter are finally on the same side when they take a family camping trip that is not what either of them expected it to be.
I find it very interesting that the first story in the Horrid Henry series (and there are other books to follow this one) is all about Henry NOT being horrid for a change. You get three pages of a general gist of Henry's normal behavior, and then for the rest of the tale Henry could rival St. Francis in terms of calm restraint. What's amazing is that in those three pages, Simon has very effectively set up Henry's normal terrible behavior. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that as he decides to be perfect for a day he's melting his brother's crayons on the radiator. The real advantage to making this the first story too is the fact that right from the start you can show how Perfect Peter is really just a two-faced little squirt. If you were Henry, you'd probably feel tempted to lob a pea at him too. Peter is the Little Lord Fauntleroy of the family. It would not be too difficult to picture him in a velvet suit and lace dickey. Ipso facto, Henry (in spite of his horrid nature) is instantaneously and weirdly sympathetic.
Horrid Henry, as the name implies, is a British creation but its author Francesca Simon is American to her core. What's so interesting about this book is how strategically Ms. Simon has avoided that moment you usually find in children's literature where the "bad" kid reveals a heart of gold. If Henry has such a heart, it is well and truly hidden. No, Simon seems to be channeling folks like Joan Aiken, whose Arabel and Mortimer series was the ultimate in naughty ravens. And since illustrator Tony Ross has a style vaguely reminiscent of Quentin Blake's, you're going to hear Roald Dahl invoked around this series as well. That's not a bad thing. Simon certainly has tapped into that kind of madcap, inventive nuttiness. But in spite of her American status and the fact that the series has been translated into Americanese (my first clue was when they called a snack "chips" and not "crisps"), the books feel bloody British. I mean, I think American kids might get the joke about bad kids fighting for the chance to play Captain Hook, but it still feels specific.
The humor is hard to pin down and describe. How do you define a book where the hero's teddy bear is named Mr. Kill? The American edition of this book has a series of quotes and positive reviews of Horrid Henry, at the start, undoubtedly strategically placed so as to waylay any potential parental complaints. One of these quotes comes from author Emily Turner who writes, "What is brilliant about the books is that Henry never does anything that is subversive. She creates an aura of supreme naughtiness (of which children are in awe) but points out that he operates within a safe and secure world." I don't entirely agree with this statement since I'm not entirely certain that Henry isn't his own distinctive brand of subversive. Maybe it would be better to say that he's not intentionally subversive. But when it comes to dancing to the beat of his own drum during a recital or finding dry wood during a camping trip, Henry manages to get just exactly what he wants without intentionally (but directly) going against the status quo. However, I'd agree with Ms. Turner that the naughtiness you find here is in a "safe and secure world." And it is precisely that situation that will be most alluring to the child readers.
Kids crave naughtiness and many children's authors respect that. They have for years. Heck, even the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books operate on the assumption that naughtiness has its place. Horrid Henry will definitely appeal to those kids who have graduated from Captain Underpants and need a slight step up in reading levels, without going a step down in terms of trouble making. An enjoyable early chapter book and reluctant reader pick.
Ages 5-10
In four stories Henry wavers between being merely bad to downright awful. "Horrid Henry's Perfect Day" describes a single 24-hour period when Henry vows to be just as perfect as his annoying little angel-like brother, Perfect Peter. What he fails to predict, however, is how quickly this disturbs and unnerves his entire family. "Horrid Henry's Dance Class" tells the tale of Henry's attempts to stomp to his own beat in dance class, and how it eventually becomes the undoing of his recital. In "Horrid Henry and Moody Margaret" we meet Henry's match in the form of the girl next door who won't budge an inch when it comes to playing backyard games. And finally in "Horrid Henry's Holiday", Henry and Peter are finally on the same side when they take a family camping trip that is not what either of them expected it to be.
I find it very interesting that the first story in the Horrid Henry series (and there are other books to follow this one) is all about Henry NOT being horrid for a change. You get three pages of a general gist of Henry's normal behavior, and then for the rest of the tale Henry could rival St. Francis in terms of calm restraint. What's amazing is that in those three pages, Simon has very effectively set up Henry's normal terrible behavior. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that as he decides to be perfect for a day he's melting his brother's crayons on the radiator. The real advantage to making this the first story too is the fact that right from the start you can show how Perfect Peter is really just a two-faced little squirt. If you were Henry, you'd probably feel tempted to lob a pea at him too. Peter is the Little Lord Fauntleroy of the family. It would not be too difficult to picture him in a velvet suit and lace dickey. Ipso facto, Henry (in spite of his horrid nature) is instantaneously and weirdly sympathetic.
Horrid Henry, as the name implies, is a British creation but its author Francesca Simon is American to her core. What's so interesting about this book is how strategically Ms. Simon has avoided that moment you usually find in children's literature where the "bad" kid reveals a heart of gold. If Henry has such a heart, it is well and truly hidden. No, Simon seems to be channeling folks like Joan Aiken, whose Arabel and Mortimer series was the ultimate in naughty ravens. And since illustrator Tony Ross has a style vaguely reminiscent of Quentin Blake's, you're going to hear Roald Dahl invoked around this series as well. That's not a bad thing. Simon certainly has tapped into that kind of madcap, inventive nuttiness. But in spite of her American status and the fact that the series has been translated into Americanese (my first clue was when they called a snack "chips" and not "crisps"), the books feel bloody British. I mean, I think American kids might get the joke about bad kids fighting for the chance to play Captain Hook, but it still feels specific.
The humor is hard to pin down and describe. How do you define a book where the hero's teddy bear is named Mr. Kill? The American edition of this book has a series of quotes and positive reviews of Horrid Henry, at the start, undoubtedly strategically placed so as to waylay any potential parental complaints. One of these quotes comes from author Emily Turner who writes, "What is brilliant about the books is that Henry never does anything that is subversive. She creates an aura of supreme naughtiness (of which children are in awe) but points out that he operates within a safe and secure world." I don't entirely agree with this statement since I'm not entirely certain that Henry isn't his own distinctive brand of subversive. Maybe it would be better to say that he's not intentionally subversive. But when it comes to dancing to the beat of his own drum during a recital or finding dry wood during a camping trip, Henry manages to get just exactly what he wants without intentionally (but directly) going against the status quo. However, I'd agree with Ms. Turner that the naughtiness you find here is in a "safe and secure world." And it is precisely that situation that will be most alluring to the child readers.
Kids crave naughtiness and many children's authors respect that. They have for years. Heck, even the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books operate on the assumption that naughtiness has its place. Horrid Henry will definitely appeal to those kids who have graduated from Captain Underpants and need a slight step up in reading levels, without going a step down in terms of trouble making. An enjoyable early chapter book and reluctant reader pick.
Ages 5-10
March 26, 2018
The book 'Horrid Henry' is a collection of four short stories which focus on the daily events of the classic anti-hero protagonist, Horrid Henry. A man who's very identity is described even before his name is given to us. He is not the only character to be named with an overly-simplified, alliterated characteristic; brothers, arch-nemeses and friends alike are all named like this: Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret, Rude Ralph etc. Truly, from names alone we understand that simplified identity will be the core difficulty our protagonist will have to face in his oncoming misadventures.
Synopsis of the first (and only story I've read so far):
'Horrid Henry's Perfect Day' harks back to a more 'Cowboy Western' plot line; as we know from his name, Henry is far from good. We see this in grizzly detail at the beginning of Simon's tale. We see how carelessly he wrecks his family home, how utterly amoral our protagonist is. We have our 'Black-Hat, if you will.
All this is juxtaposed with Perfect Peter, the 'White-Hat' of our story. he cares for his surroundings, he does not squander his home's supply of vegetables and is rewarded by their mother with cake, But no. He does not want recognition for his actions, Peter does not desire cake. He merely wants to do good.
However, the colour of a man's hat and the lines that make up morality are muddled and blurred when Henry, the once-Cain to Peter's Abel, sees his brother's success and tries to emulate it. Out of innocent curiosity, he strives to experience his brother's defining feature, 'Perfection.'
As the fallen Henry strives to recompense for his transgressions against his own blood, and while his mother welcomes this newer, more godly Henry with open arms, his brother watches from above in disbelief. He knew what kind of man his brother once was, he knows of his trickery, his capability for deceit, his horrible nature.
Later that same day, Henry is helping at the homestead with his mother, setting the table and altogether taking the jobs of his younger brother. Peter cries out at his loss of purpose within his home, but it falls on deaf ears. Peter is threatened now, his place at his mother's side is no longer safe at the hands of what he believes to be a deceiver. So he goads him.
All throughout the night, Peter tempts Henry, aiming to spark the fires of his once great and cavernous furnace of anger but the pit is empty. Henry does not respond. Instead he holds peace to his brother, trying to show him he is a changed man, but Peter does not believe him. No, he cannot. For in Peter's eyes only Peter is Perfect, and if one is Perfect there must be another who is horrible.
Unwittingly, Peter had turned the tables of morality back on himself, letting the horrible fires that once plagued his brother settle onto him. Their defining characteristics had been swapped and in the storm of passion that was raging through Peter, their Mother was hurt by him. Peter is cast out of the dining room.
At that moment, all Horrible fire is banished from him and he is left empty and forgotten. However, it merely returns to its original vessel. Henry's mirth at the banishment of his brother bubbles through for their mother to see. This feature is no longer welcome there and he too was banished to his room, along with his brother.
Review:
This was truly a harrowing tale of nigh-biblical proportions. Simon honestly grapples with the idea of redemption and to what extent a person is able to forgive. With echoes to genesis, her modern interpretation of the bible tale is far more fitting for a contemporary audience of today, not to mention the metaphor of the feminine God found in the Mother character of the two children. She was all loving, yet all powerful and fair.
Honestly, if this story didn't have such hauntingly true themes of brotherhood and repentance, I would undoubtedly read it to my child. However, I feel it better to wait a number of years before i show it to him or merely let him find this himself.
Synopsis of the first (and only story I've read so far):
'Horrid Henry's Perfect Day' harks back to a more 'Cowboy Western' plot line; as we know from his name, Henry is far from good. We see this in grizzly detail at the beginning of Simon's tale. We see how carelessly he wrecks his family home, how utterly amoral our protagonist is. We have our 'Black-Hat, if you will.
All this is juxtaposed with Perfect Peter, the 'White-Hat' of our story. he cares for his surroundings, he does not squander his home's supply of vegetables and is rewarded by their mother with cake, But no. He does not want recognition for his actions, Peter does not desire cake. He merely wants to do good.
However, the colour of a man's hat and the lines that make up morality are muddled and blurred when Henry, the once-Cain to Peter's Abel, sees his brother's success and tries to emulate it. Out of innocent curiosity, he strives to experience his brother's defining feature, 'Perfection.'
As the fallen Henry strives to recompense for his transgressions against his own blood, and while his mother welcomes this newer, more godly Henry with open arms, his brother watches from above in disbelief. He knew what kind of man his brother once was, he knows of his trickery, his capability for deceit, his horrible nature.
Later that same day, Henry is helping at the homestead with his mother, setting the table and altogether taking the jobs of his younger brother. Peter cries out at his loss of purpose within his home, but it falls on deaf ears. Peter is threatened now, his place at his mother's side is no longer safe at the hands of what he believes to be a deceiver. So he goads him.
All throughout the night, Peter tempts Henry, aiming to spark the fires of his once great and cavernous furnace of anger but the pit is empty. Henry does not respond. Instead he holds peace to his brother, trying to show him he is a changed man, but Peter does not believe him. No, he cannot. For in Peter's eyes only Peter is Perfect, and if one is Perfect there must be another who is horrible.
Unwittingly, Peter had turned the tables of morality back on himself, letting the horrible fires that once plagued his brother settle onto him. Their defining characteristics had been swapped and in the storm of passion that was raging through Peter, their Mother was hurt by him. Peter is cast out of the dining room.
At that moment, all Horrible fire is banished from him and he is left empty and forgotten. However, it merely returns to its original vessel. Henry's mirth at the banishment of his brother bubbles through for their mother to see. This feature is no longer welcome there and he too was banished to his room, along with his brother.
Review:
This was truly a harrowing tale of nigh-biblical proportions. Simon honestly grapples with the idea of redemption and to what extent a person is able to forgive. With echoes to genesis, her modern interpretation of the bible tale is far more fitting for a contemporary audience of today, not to mention the metaphor of the feminine God found in the Mother character of the two children. She was all loving, yet all powerful and fair.
Honestly, if this story didn't have such hauntingly true themes of brotherhood and repentance, I would undoubtedly read it to my child. However, I feel it better to wait a number of years before i show it to him or merely let him find this himself.
November 20, 2015
I thought the book was very funny.The book was about a kid named Henry. He was horrid. He had a brother named Peter. He was perfect. Henry tried to be perfect but he couldn't. They went camping for vacation. Henry was told that there was a T.V and comfortable beds. He was surprised of what he saw. He had to sleep in a little tent that got soggy because of the rain.I recommend this book to all the fifth graders because it tells you how to be horrid and how to be perfect.
July 28, 2024
Grozni Gašper so ble elitne knjige, contemplatam označt celo zbirko sam pol bi preveč vplival na moj goodreads
![Profile Image for [ J o ].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1673171874i%2F4639825._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 10, 2019
For some bizarre reason I have stopped trying to figure out, I found this book on my kindle.
Honestly? It's quite good, when you consider whom it is aimed at. It's written really well in the kind of way most kids books that aren't meant to be also read by adults, and it has some nice scenarios that most little boys and girls will find very funny.
It might get a tad boring after a while. Horrid people are funny if they're on TV or in a book (i.e. not real and you can turn them off at any moment) but eventually they will seep in to your soul and darken your mood. Eventually.
Honestly? It's quite good, when you consider whom it is aimed at. It's written really well in the kind of way most kids books that aren't meant to be also read by adults, and it has some nice scenarios that most little boys and girls will find very funny.
It might get a tad boring after a while. Horrid people are funny if they're on TV or in a book (i.e. not real and you can turn them off at any moment) but eventually they will seep in to your soul and darken your mood. Eventually.
March 7, 2021
So my aunt asked me to give her three books in this series that I own so she can pass them on to a younger relative. I decided to reread them before giving them up. This is the first one, and it's as good as I remember.
I haven read these in 10+ years I think? Anyway, I'm reading the translated versions and I'm in love with them. I never read the English ones, maybe someday.
I love how everything rhymes perfectly and how it's easy to understand for kids. The illustrations are great as well. In my books they're black and white, they could work as a mini colouring book too.
Henry's elephant dance is my favourite part. Bam bam bam.
I haven read these in 10+ years I think? Anyway, I'm reading the translated versions and I'm in love with them. I never read the English ones, maybe someday.
I love how everything rhymes perfectly and how it's easy to understand for kids. The illustrations are great as well. In my books they're black and white, they could work as a mini colouring book too.
Henry's elephant dance is my favourite part. Bam bam bam.
February 29, 2024
according to sarah, i've brought horrid henry up multiple times this week alone so i decided to download this so we could read it together. i'm still in shock that no one i've talked to has heard of horrid henry considering how mass produced this series was in vietnam. i just looked on twitter and horrid henry the animated series has a fandom which is interesting...but i digress.
this is still very very funny. i dare say that i enjoy it more as an adult now because of the nostalgia. i think my mum used to call me perfect peter when i was little but honestly now i bear more resemblance to henry. maturing is hating perfect peter for the little suck up twat that he is and having beef with henry's parents for being horrible parents. i have very strong opinions on this matter. at the end of the day, henry is just the average cheeky tween. i am a fan.
this is still very very funny. i dare say that i enjoy it more as an adult now because of the nostalgia. i think my mum used to call me perfect peter when i was little but honestly now i bear more resemblance to henry. maturing is hating perfect peter for the little suck up twat that he is and having beef with henry's parents for being horrible parents. i have very strong opinions on this matter. at the end of the day, henry is just the average cheeky tween. i am a fan.
August 30, 2015
i found this book very interesting, I found that i want a bother or sister after I read this book, since I think it's always fun even a brother who is Horrid Henry( I am an only child in my family), I realize a brother can be horrible and maybe , there's a slightly chance that they are actually seeking attention, and no other than this.
November 10, 2020
Och, toto mi bol čert dlžný, bude chcieť dieťa čítať všetky? Dieťa sa celkom baví, ja sa celkom desím. Naozaj otrasné správanie chalaniska a netušíme, prečo sa tak správa. Každé meno dieťaťa má nejaké prídavné meno (načo, načo, načo???). Príbehy sú celkom zaujímavé, ale v kontexte Gabovho správania často vyznejú veľmi hlúpo. No uvidíme, ako sa bude Gabo vyvíjať ďalej, bo dieťa už dovlieklo ďalšiu z knižnice.
November 5, 2021
i used to watch this show when i was younger and i didn't know it was a book and so i was reading it to my friend and i finished it in one sitting, i really enjoyed reading this cause it reminded me of my childhood, i totally recommend this if you grew up watching the series
April 14, 2022
czuję się jak dziecko
February 23, 2022
*just updating to add a rating*
4/5
I remember liking this book as a kid, so I thought I’d read it again (this time in English) and ahh it was so nostalgic.
I didn’t know the book was set in Britain (idk how I didn’t know, the title screams it) and as a wannabe british myself, I very much enjoyed the “british atmosphere” in the book. I love british kids. Even if they are “horrid”.
This book is basically about this kid Henry who does bad things, his brother (perfect peter) who is “perfect” and a few more characters.
While I don’t fully understand the point of this book, if there is one (it doesn’t teach the reader that being bad is bad, for example), I enjoyed it very much, and I did sense some important themes but I don’t think they were intended (like, if you look at the third story as a metaphor and stuff like that)
Edit: Also, the adults’ behavior in the book is questionable at times🤔 but ig things were different in the 90’s
Also also, this showed me that I can in fact read physical books in English, it just depends on the book ig. And if there are pictures (which I really liked as well)
Overall, had a good half an hour, And I might read the next two books in the series soon
4/5
I remember liking this book as a kid, so I thought I’d read it again (this time in English) and ahh it was so nostalgic.
I didn’t know the book was set in Britain (idk how I didn’t know, the title screams it) and as a wannabe british myself, I very much enjoyed the “british atmosphere” in the book. I love british kids. Even if they are “horrid”.
This book is basically about this kid Henry who does bad things, his brother (perfect peter) who is “perfect” and a few more characters.
While I don’t fully understand the point of this book, if there is one (it doesn’t teach the reader that being bad is bad, for example), I enjoyed it very much, and I did sense some important themes but I don’t think they were intended (like, if you look at the third story as a metaphor and stuff like that)
Edit: Also, the adults’ behavior in the book is questionable at times🤔 but ig things were different in the 90’s
Also also, this showed me that I can in fact read physical books in English, it just depends on the book ig. And if there are pictures (which I really liked as well)
Overall, had a good half an hour, And I might read the next two books in the series soon
December 12, 2012
Horrid Henry is a little boy who is notoriously ‘horrid’, lacking in manners and hygiene and always up to mischief. There is also his brother 'perfect Peter' who, on the contrary as the name suggests is perfect in every way. The stories address how personalities can clash and how this can be dealt with in a positive way, emphasising that we are all different.
There are many horrid Henry books with a series of short stories in. The characters really help to tackle the range of children in classrooms and children can relate to them in one way or another. I feel these books are great for teaching morals and values to children so they can identify right from wrong. They are also very humorous and especially handy for engaging boys in literacy as they seem to find these books fun and give a better response than the typical children’s book. In my opinion they are good for the classroom as they tackle many of the problems often faced in school eg, bullying, nits, not doing homework etc. This is a nice way of children assessing what is right from wrong, and demonstrates that these issues can be tackled whilst teaching that honesty and kindness prevails.
The books are appropriate for all ages at Primary level but obviously at the younger ages (as I have witnessed its use) it has to be read to the children.
There are many horrid Henry books with a series of short stories in. The characters really help to tackle the range of children in classrooms and children can relate to them in one way or another. I feel these books are great for teaching morals and values to children so they can identify right from wrong. They are also very humorous and especially handy for engaging boys in literacy as they seem to find these books fun and give a better response than the typical children’s book. In my opinion they are good for the classroom as they tackle many of the problems often faced in school eg, bullying, nits, not doing homework etc. This is a nice way of children assessing what is right from wrong, and demonstrates that these issues can be tackled whilst teaching that honesty and kindness prevails.
The books are appropriate for all ages at Primary level but obviously at the younger ages (as I have witnessed its use) it has to be read to the children.
November 16, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date:
Horrid Henry. / Francesca Simon. Tony Ross (ill.) / 2009.
Genre: Juvenile Humorous Fiction.
Format: Book - print. 128 pages.
Plot summary:
"Horrid Henry is the worst -- he's always in trouble, and he seems even more badly behaved than he actually is in comparison with his brother, Perfect Peter. In the four short stories collected here, the mischievous Henry causes Peter all sorts of problems when he behaves properly for a change, upstages Peter at a dance recital, pretends to be a pirate, and goes on a camping trip" (NoveList: Ellen Foreman).
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory:
brothers, misbehavior, middle school boys
Review citation:
"Short, easy-to-read chapters will appeal to early readers, who will laugh at Henry's exaggerated antics and relate to his rambunctious personality" (Terrie Dorio in School Library Journal).
Section source used to find the material:
Recommended in class, Materials for Youth, session 7: J-Fiction.
Recommended age: Ages 8 to 12.
Horrid Henry. / Francesca Simon. Tony Ross (ill.) / 2009.
Genre: Juvenile Humorous Fiction.
Format: Book - print. 128 pages.
Plot summary:
"Horrid Henry is the worst -- he's always in trouble, and he seems even more badly behaved than he actually is in comparison with his brother, Perfect Peter. In the four short stories collected here, the mischievous Henry causes Peter all sorts of problems when he behaves properly for a change, upstages Peter at a dance recital, pretends to be a pirate, and goes on a camping trip" (NoveList: Ellen Foreman).
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory:
brothers, misbehavior, middle school boys
Review citation:
"Short, easy-to-read chapters will appeal to early readers, who will laugh at Henry's exaggerated antics and relate to his rambunctious personality" (Terrie Dorio in School Library Journal).
Section source used to find the material:
Recommended in class, Materials for Youth, session 7: J-Fiction.
Recommended age: Ages 8 to 12.
April 11, 2016
I'm not one to just shy away from the naughty kid stories. I adored Junie B,. and Captain Underpants, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid - all of which I read I read aloud and loved with my kids. I really liked Loser List & Middle School. Even with their often troublemaking and defiant personalities, there was a lot of charm, humor, fun, and/or insight from the characters and stories that made them enjoyable and worthwhile. Horrid Henry did nothing for me. He just was...horrid. And his horrid-ness always pays off for him. Now, I could have still enjoyed and appreciated and maybe even loved Henry if the stories were clever or funny enough. But I didn't find much of either here to counter the bratty boy who always wins the day.
May 25, 2019
Horrid Henry, Horrid Henry serisinin ilk kitabı. Bu kitabı ortaokulda iken Felaket Henry şekliyle kütüphaneden alıp okumuştum ve okurken üstünden bolca zaman geçmesine rağmen olayları hala hatırladığımı fark ettim.
Horrid Henry'yi gerçekten seviyorum ve ailesinden de nefret ediyorum. Eğer benim de sürekli kardeşlerim ile beni kıyaslayan bir anne-babam olsaydı ben de onun gibi olurdum muhtemelen.
Sürekli Henry'ye "Don't be horrid Henry!" diye bağırıldığını görüyoruz kitapta. Bence asıl horrid olan şey anne ve babasının ona bu şekilde davranması.
Herkese tavsiye edebileceğim bir kitap değil bu, ama okumak istiyorsanız içerisinde eğlenceli zaman geçirebileceğiniz dört güzel hikaye bulunduğunu söyleyebilirim.
Horrid Henry'yi gerçekten seviyorum ve ailesinden de nefret ediyorum. Eğer benim de sürekli kardeşlerim ile beni kıyaslayan bir anne-babam olsaydı ben de onun gibi olurdum muhtemelen.
Sürekli Henry'ye "Don't be horrid Henry!" diye bağırıldığını görüyoruz kitapta. Bence asıl horrid olan şey anne ve babasının ona bu şekilde davranması.
Herkese tavsiye edebileceğim bir kitap değil bu, ama okumak istiyorsanız içerisinde eğlenceli zaman geçirebileceğiniz dört güzel hikaye bulunduğunu söyleyebilirim.
February 19, 2015
I have 2nd and 3rd grade boys. One who's a reluctant reader, one who loves to read, and they BOTH love this series. A great transition book that's a step up from readers, but still has illustrations.
January 2, 2017
2,5/5*
funny light reading.
funny light reading.
January 22, 2023
Loved this! Totally adding it to my list of comfort reads.
March 29, 2024
Read it as a child , funny but full of trouble
May 8, 2025
poor henry
May 2, 2020
A series I have been meaning to read for a while.
Henry is not horrid in many senses of the word. He is moody and selfish but these first four short stories show he is also intelligent.
The writing is breezy and suitable for very new readers who have a little help. There is humour in every story.
On the downside I felt that having no links between the stories chronologically could lose a reader and there was no evidence of punishment for Henry when he misbehaves.
Henry is not horrid in many senses of the word. He is moody and selfish but these first four short stories show he is also intelligent.
The writing is breezy and suitable for very new readers who have a little help. There is humour in every story.
On the downside I felt that having no links between the stories chronologically could lose a reader and there was no evidence of punishment for Henry when he misbehaves.
April 21, 2020
I think that this is a very good book because on how she expresses it, the way she tells it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone.
June 8, 2020
Horrid Hennry
October 26, 2020
LOVE IT
It is the most best in the world 🌎🌎
It is the most best in the world 🌎🌎
October 10, 2022
Read this for Children’s Literature class. 5 stars cause it would be useful to debate about behaviour and with the kids and have a good laugh!
Read
October 24, 2017I love horrid henry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2018
Funny but Henry can be pretty horrid for a kid.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews