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Mr. Men #23
Mr Muddle
Mr. Muddle botches absolutely everything he tries to do. His friend George is determined to figure out how to help him. Can he discover the secret of how to unmuddle Mr. Muddle?
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
6 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Roger Hargreaves
1,330 books369 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 37 reviews
August 17, 2018
This was cute. I can relate a little to Mr. Muddle. I get my left and right reversed and sometimes I reverse chicken and fish. It's right in my head and it comes out of my mind incorrectly. Strange. What I enjoyed about this one, was the people found a way to work with Mr. Muddle and it made it life easier and Mr. Muddle was happy.
The nephew was so excited there was another Mr. Men he hadn't read. He doesn't get there are 50 of them, although, we are over halfway through them. He gave this 5 stars and I had to read it twice.
The nephew was so excited there was another Mr. Men he hadn't read. He doesn't get there are 50 of them, although, we are over halfway through them. He gave this 5 stars and I had to read it twice.
September 8, 2021
We've all had our favourite Mr. Men characters growing up, so it's great to get a different appreciation for some of the other ones when re-reading them as a parent.
Mr. Muddle is an easily confused individual who struggles to do ordinary tasks like DIY.
When his friend George understands Mr Muddles complex issue whilst on a fishing trip, he comes upon a simple solution.
The nice positive message of some people can be different and appreciate their foibles are well handled.
With the rest of the town folk embracing this quirk, both they and more importantly Mr Muddle are happy and delighted.
Mr. Muddle is an easily confused individual who struggles to do ordinary tasks like DIY.
When his friend George understands Mr Muddles complex issue whilst on a fishing trip, he comes upon a simple solution.
The nice positive message of some people can be different and appreciate their foibles are well handled.
With the rest of the town folk embracing this quirk, both they and more importantly Mr Muddle are happy and delighted.
August 11, 2021
Mr. Muddle is a joy of a book. The titular protagonist is a shining beacon of neurodiversity and the best part about the story is that his supporting cast do not try to change him (as happens in too many other books in this series) but rather change their own behaviours and expectations to accommodate his differences. In fact, they turn what could be seen as his disadvantages into advantages. I wholeheartedly approve of this, particularly as I feel more and more like Mr. Muddle every day myself.
The burning question I've always had about Mr. Muddle, though, is: are his legs on back-to-front or is his face on his back? I can't tell you how many nights I've lost sleep pondering that one...
My next book: Curse of the Man-Thing
The burning question I've always had about Mr. Muddle, though, is: are his legs on back-to-front or is his face on his back? I can't tell you how many nights I've lost sleep pondering that one...
My next book: Curse of the Man-Thing
July 2, 2018
Working With People’s Eccentricities
2 July 2018 – Nimbin
Well, here I am sitting in my room reading a delightful Mr Men book. Actually, I’m currently in a small town called Nimbin, which is actually a village that feels like it has been trapped in the Summer of 69. Yep, pretty much this place is where all the hippies come to retire, and in a way it is a very delightful, and peaceful, place to wander around. In fact, you can pretty much tell the difference between the locals and the visitors, because the locals are basically all hippies.
Anyway, enough of that because I’m sure to write a blog post on my travel blog sooner or later, though since it is the major reason I traveled up here, I really should make it sooner rather than later. So, as I mentioned, this is an absolutely delightful book. It is basically about how a town learned to live with somebody who was rather different. The problem with Mr Muddle is that he simply gets confused, and if somebody asks him for something, he gives them something else. The thing is that instead of trying to cure him, which sometimes is simply not possible, they learn to work with his disability
I’m not sure if disability is the correct word, but in a way this is an analogy that can be applied to this book. Mr Muddle certainly has trouble getting things straight, so instead of chastising him, or getting impatient with him, the townspeople learn to work with his disability. However, sometimes this isn’t always a disability, sometimes people are just naturally different. Take somebody who can’t speak the native tongue of the land in which they live – this is very much the case with immigrants. Sure, some people chastise them for ‘living in Australia and not speaking English’. However, learning English is pretty difficult, especially if you’re from a land where English isn’t spoken naturally. As such, instead of getting upset, we need to be patient.
Sometimes people are slow in making decisions, and need things explained to them. This is particularly the case in customer service. An impatient worker is going to get absolutely nowhere. Honestly, we aren’t talking about rude and arrogant customers, they are a completely different story, we are just talking about customers that may need things explained to them a bit better, or may be having trouble understanding the jargon. What this book teaches us is that by being patient, and by working around people’s difficulties, we can actually have them participate in society as opposed to feeling excluded, and in reality this is what a lot of people actually want – to feel included.
2 July 2018 – Nimbin
Well, here I am sitting in my room reading a delightful Mr Men book. Actually, I’m currently in a small town called Nimbin, which is actually a village that feels like it has been trapped in the Summer of 69. Yep, pretty much this place is where all the hippies come to retire, and in a way it is a very delightful, and peaceful, place to wander around. In fact, you can pretty much tell the difference between the locals and the visitors, because the locals are basically all hippies.
Anyway, enough of that because I’m sure to write a blog post on my travel blog sooner or later, though since it is the major reason I traveled up here, I really should make it sooner rather than later. So, as I mentioned, this is an absolutely delightful book. It is basically about how a town learned to live with somebody who was rather different. The problem with Mr Muddle is that he simply gets confused, and if somebody asks him for something, he gives them something else. The thing is that instead of trying to cure him, which sometimes is simply not possible, they learn to work with his disability
I’m not sure if disability is the correct word, but in a way this is an analogy that can be applied to this book. Mr Muddle certainly has trouble getting things straight, so instead of chastising him, or getting impatient with him, the townspeople learn to work with his disability. However, sometimes this isn’t always a disability, sometimes people are just naturally different. Take somebody who can’t speak the native tongue of the land in which they live – this is very much the case with immigrants. Sure, some people chastise them for ‘living in Australia and not speaking English’. However, learning English is pretty difficult, especially if you’re from a land where English isn’t spoken naturally. As such, instead of getting upset, we need to be patient.
Sometimes people are slow in making decisions, and need things explained to them. This is particularly the case in customer service. An impatient worker is going to get absolutely nowhere. Honestly, we aren’t talking about rude and arrogant customers, they are a completely different story, we are just talking about customers that may need things explained to them a bit better, or may be having trouble understanding the jargon. What this book teaches us is that by being patient, and by working around people’s difficulties, we can actually have them participate in society as opposed to feeling excluded, and in reality this is what a lot of people actually want – to feel included.
December 18, 2022
We love the Mr Men books, and this one really makes us laugh when poor Mr Muddle gets things confused. The illustrations are brilliant too.
April 26, 2010
A warm and caring tale about a poor confused soul. No matter what he does Mr Muddle just can't help getting things wrong. However his friends all rally round to boost his self esteem.
My children came away from the book realising taht you need to help people like that out, not make fun of them. The power of reverse psychology explained so a four year old can grasp it!
Whilst not the most engrossing of the Mr Men series, it's got a powerful message to pass on.
My children came away from the book realising taht you need to help people like that out, not make fun of them. The power of reverse psychology explained so a four year old can grasp it!
Whilst not the most engrossing of the Mr Men series, it's got a powerful message to pass on.
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.
February 24, 2017
Although I understand the point of this book is to be funny I think, even as child, I would have found the attempts at humor to go into the category "trying too hard."
April 28, 2020
Another good Mt Man book as family sharing, tonight with running commentary from Lucy.
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.
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.
March 20, 2009
The MR. Men books are an English book my mom had when she was younger. She let me read them and each as a different story. This one is about Mr. Muddle. He is always muddling into everything. He seems to like to mess with people.
November 8, 2014
Another great Mr Men adventure. Mr Muddle cannot get anything right but a good friend finally works out how to help him feel useful. This book had my daughter laughing out loud and pointing out all the "muddles". Also she learned a new word - muddle!!
September 2, 2017
Mr Muddle is a special case. And the townspeople all band together to learn to work with Mr Muddles difference instead of berating him or ostracizing him. That's what makes the Mr Men books so great!
March 20, 2008
Thisis also a bit to easy.... but historical at the same time!
June 16, 2008
Mr. Muddles skill lies in getting everyone around him in a muddele, while making perfect sense to himself.
July 5, 2013
Truly so muddle Mr. Muddle but the story was nice and funny.
December 28, 2013
Solid.
November 13, 2014
"Ooooh no please" replied Mr. Muddle, eagerly.
May 12, 2016
I listened to Mr muddle nicely when mummy read it to me but this is not one of my favourite Mr Men books (2yrs 10mths)
December 23, 2016
I did not like this book because I do not like to muddle. I also did not like this book because Mr. Muddle muddled too much.
April 18, 2024
Nothing grinds my gears more than watching the incompetent Mr Muddle screw everything up around him and inconvenience everyone in his life! It genuinely makes my blood boil, and I become consumed by rage even thinking about this fiend. He walks backwards! You know who else walks backwards, the devil! Don’t fact check that, just believe me. But when he sliced the gravy, that was the last straw, I threw my book at a swan, and decapitated it, all that force was powered by the fury within my soul caused by Mr Muddle.
In conclusion, I am not a happy bunny 🐰
In conclusion, I am not a happy bunny 🐰
February 2, 2020
6 year old says... I really like it, it's really funny. My favourite bit is where Mr Muddle slices the gravy.
40 year old says... Well... Again... A simple conversation or maybe some cue cards would help Mr Muddle and his confusion. It's not like he's thick or anything. He just gets muddled. Instead, here, in seatown, we just get people telling him things, then congratulating him when he gets it wrong. Just feels a bit sarcastic and I'm not sure that this is the right way to go.
40 year old says... Well... Again... A simple conversation or maybe some cue cards would help Mr Muddle and his confusion. It's not like he's thick or anything. He just gets muddled. Instead, here, in seatown, we just get people telling him things, then congratulating him when he gets it wrong. Just feels a bit sarcastic and I'm not sure that this is the right way to go.
February 10, 2020
Mr. Muddle makes a muddle of everything.
“Muddle” is a British term meaning mixed up and confused, and Mr. Muddle gets everything wrong. Finally, the townspeople discover that the only chance of getting Mr. Muddle to do what they want is to ask him to do something else, and then he may do the right thing by mistake.
“Muddle” is a British term meaning mixed up and confused, and Mr. Muddle gets everything wrong. Finally, the townspeople discover that the only chance of getting Mr. Muddle to do what they want is to ask him to do something else, and then he may do the right thing by mistake.
December 30, 2018
Previously on the Mr Men Marathon things were in a muddle and we were out of order how could we get back on track and get things back in order - Mr Muddle!! Yes Mr Muddle helps us get out of our muddle and entertains us along the way. Another Mr Men down and another fine read. Go Mr Men!!
June 13, 2019
One can imagine how mixed up can his life really get.
Mr. Muddle, do I know anyone like that? Yes, when they are not focused. Their mind is wandering elsewhere all the time.
Mr. Muddle, do I know anyone like that? Yes, when they are not focused. Their mind is wandering elsewhere all the time.
October 6, 2019
Funny, muddled up book with brilliant bright illustrations.
January 4, 2020
What a funny little tale. The ending had the kids in first of giggles. Quite insightful really when thinking of what life can sometimes feel like for a child with dyslexia
January 19, 2021
So I’m telling you about the book mr muddle. So the problem was in this book mr muddle got everything wrong and at the end he tried to slice the gravy.
December 26, 2021
Well, aren’t we all a bit of a Mr. Muddle from time to time? I am.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews