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Mr. Men #24

Mr. Dizzy

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Mr. Dizzy always gets things confused until one day he happens upon a wishing well, and his dearest wish comes true!

32 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1976

4 people are currently reading
227 people want to read

About the author

Roger Hargreaves

1,324 books367 followers
Roger 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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5 stars
206 (37%)
4 stars
153 (28%)
3 stars
137 (25%)
2 stars
41 (7%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Calista.
5,432 reviews31.3k followers
August 11, 2018
Basically, this is a revenge tale for children. Mr. Dizzy is mercilessly teased for not being as clever as the rest of the people in cleverland. After a wish is granted, he is and he humiliates them right back. Why is MR. Dizzy called Dizzy? He should be Mr. Slow or something else. He never speaks of being Dizzy. This is about being Clever or not.

My favorite line from the book is the Pig was downright, if not downleft miserable. Ha, that cracked me up.

I didn’t like this one as much as other. I felt it was mean spirited. My nephew thought it was brilliant. He gave it 5 stars. Berenstain Bears, Sweet Pickles and Mr Men are big hits in our house.
Profile Image for Ken.
2,564 reviews1,377 followers
September 7, 2021
There is a really effective anti-bullying message in this Mr. Men tale.

Mr. Dizzy has found himself an easy target for ridicule seeing as his not as bright as the other residents of Clevertown.
The tables turn with the aid of a wishing well (yeah a bit random) and the bullies soon find themselves figures of fun.

Seeing Mr. Dizzy so upset for the unpleasant and unnecessary treatment he receives is quite heartbreaking, thankfully it's a series of clever pranks rather than anything malicious where he's able to get his revenge.

The fun illustrations really add to the enjoyment of this quick quirky lesson.
Profile Image for Paul.
2,794 reviews20 followers
August 17, 2021
This is an odd one, even by Mr. Men standards. Firstly, Hargreaves has shied away from calling the less-than-bright protagonist ‘Mr. Stupid’ or something that actually describes him in the way that most of the other Mr. Men’s names do. Going by the books in this series, you might go into this one expecting Mr. Dizzy to be a vertigo sufferer.

Our uncharacteristically coyly named hero is also a victim of flat out bullying, which is a somewhat harsher treatment than the other negatively traited Mr. Men generally experience. Most of them are met with exasperation at worst, often quite kindhearted exasperation.

After having his nega-trait vanished by an, admittedly fairly standard, magic ballet, Mr. Dizzy responds by exacting revenge on his bullies by giving them the same treatment they gave him, with some physical violence thrown in for good measure.

This probably makes most 21st century adults a little uncomfortable, message-wise, but I guarantee the majority of kids will love it, due to the final page zinger of a punchline. It made me laugh, anyway… not that that’s saying much, to be fair.

My next book: The Prince of Graustark
Profile Image for Sophie Crane.
5,211 reviews178 followers
December 15, 2022
Poor Mr Dizzy finds out some people can be really unkind when he meets 2 characters that think they're much cleverer than him ... but then he finds a way to outsmart them!
Profile Image for David Sarkies.
1,933 reviews382 followers
April 1, 2017
Don't Underestimate
2 April 2017

Poor Mr Dizzy, or should we say 'Mr Stupid', but then again this is a kid's book so we can't really encourage them to go around calling people stupid, though I suspect that Dizzy is probably a much, much nicer way of calling people stupid. Actually, I remember when the so called 'dumb people' were referred to as dizzy, though I didn't think about this until I started reading this book. Okay, I have read Mr Dizzy many times in the past, but it wasn't until my latest reading that I made the connection between somebody who is stupid and somebody who is dizzy. The thing is that we shouldn't go around calling people stupid because these people have a habit of showing us up, and this is what happens in this book.

Mr Dizzy isn't all that well gifted in the knowledge department, and he has the unfortunate experience of living in Cleverland, which means that he is completely out of place. The thing is that it turns out that the people of Cleverland are snobs. Actually, we discovered in Mr Clever that the people of Cleverland actually think more of themselves than they really deserve, and are eventually shown up as not being anywhere near as smart as they make themselves out to be. However, Mr Dizzy, who feels out of place, goes into the woods, and comes out, without actually realising it, much smarter than he was when he went in, and once again showed up all of the people in Cleverland as being little more than a bunch of snobs.

The interesting thing is that I have seen stories of how smart people actually turn out to be a lot richer than athletic and popular people, and normally they compare Bill Gates with, say, Michael Jordan. Honestly, that is a fallacy namely because there are a lot of smart people out there and only a handful of them happen to be on the level of Bill Gates. Mind you, there are a lot of sports people and actors out there as well, and only a handful of them happen to have anywhere near the earning potential of Michael Jordan and, well, name a famous Hollywood star. Actually, the same goes with musicians. The thing is that the nature of our society focuses on the handful that succeed as opposed to the huge number that haven't – which why articles along the lines of 'the seven daily habits of successful people' are actually a misnomer because there are a lot of people out there that also do similar things but aren't millionaires.

The thing is that being clever isn't necessarily the road to wealth and riches. Actually, it is more likely that clever people, while being clever, don't actually have much in the way of common sense or even people skills. Further, what this book does is that it tells us that we should really be careful when we laugh and snicker at people that we consider below us because they don't seem to know what we would consider basic facts. I have to admit that I've done that myself, making mockery of people that don't understand basic trigonometry. Sure, they may not know basic trig, but what they do know is to how to manage their money, how to raise a child, and how to be a good husband. Those, in my opinion, are much better skills to have that being able to add 23 and 42 using binary numbers.
Profile Image for Siobhan.
5,030 reviews598 followers
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.
Profile Image for Simone.
94 reviews2 followers
February 1, 2015
It was really funny and he was really clever!
Profile Image for TheBabyGarnet.
40 reviews2 followers
June 29, 2023
To start this off, I want to tell you a little bit about where I decided to read this little book. I felt the need for a little “book magic” today so, I was sitting in my local bus station people watching when I looked in my shopping bag and kinda forgot I bought this from a charity shop earlier, so I read it there in the hustle and bustle of people coming on and off the buses. Safe to say I enjoyed this and just goes to show that, you can read whenever and wherever. For a weird reason, I’m addicted to reading mr men and little miss books and so when I found this in a charity shop, how could I not read this?

My thoughts: I was intrigued with how they brought mr dizzy into the storyline, because what he was like in the story, he acted especially like my best friend and helper Barney, (my dog, not a real person that I have a crush on because my actual crush doesn’t actually know I exist 🥹). Because I know my dog from the inside and out (ew), I feel like he is the epitome of mr dizzy. You could be bored somewhere and feel like you need a pick me up, I would personally say that this book will be your boredom buster in any situation because, you can still listen to people and talk to them as the book is short so it wouldn’t take any time to read this and you will benefit from it immediately. A absolute FIVE STAR (bit aggressive) rating from me!

If you want to purchase this absolute must read, get it from Amazon here! https://amzn.eu/d/1s1o41m
Profile Image for Phil Syphe.
Author 8 books16 followers
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.
Profile Image for Godzilla.
634 reviews21 followers
February 23, 2010
Hmmm, if I were a picky man, I'd wonder exactly how the title referred to the character. I was expecting some sort of vertigo related story!

It's a useful tale to instil tolerance in children, showing that it's not that clever to belittle someone, or to feel superior over the less fortunate.

A nice tale of redemption too, with a comic twist (quite literally!)revolving around the elephant. Or maybe it's just that I like putting on teh silly voices when reading these to my kids?
Profile Image for Alannah Clarke.
960 reviews86 followers
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.
519 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2008
Mr. Dizzy gets temporarily out of his dizziness and befuddles a pig and an elephant, both of whom had earlier made fun of his dizziness.

If you analysed this too deeply it might be that the story were thought rather disturbing. Listen though people, THESE STORIES ARE FOR KIDS. Kids tend to be less judgemental than you might think.
Profile Image for Danielle Palmer.
1,098 reviews15 followers
September 2, 2017
Mr Dizzy is not the brightest bulb. Unfortunately, some slightly more clever animals use Mr Dizzy's lack of intelligence as a way to make themselves feel superior. Mr Dizzy gets his revenge by by magically becoming clever himself and in turn bullying those who used to belittle him. This Mr Men book has some of the best illustrations thus far
Profile Image for τλιϓλ.
1,036 reviews202 followers
July 5, 2013
Being clever doesn't mean you have to be mean like the elephant and pig, you have to understand that some are smart, some are little smart and some need more time to understand things, I like the way Mr. Dizzy pay them back their bad attitude, serves them right, Bravo Mr. Dizzy.
519 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2009
My all time favourite Mr. Men book for some reason. Sean likes it too.
96 reviews10 followers
May 9, 2010
Mr dizzy lived in cleverland.One day,a pig told him a question.He went to the forest.He drank a wishing well.He became clever.
Profile Image for Andy Hickman.
7,393 reviews51 followers
October 1, 2016
“Mr Dizzy” - Overcomes ridicule by drinking from a magic well. Mr Dizzy realised he was now clever, and it wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling.
Profile Image for Alex.
708 reviews
December 26, 2016
I did not like this book because I do not like being dizzy. I enjoyed this book because at the end Mr. Dizzy was not dizzy.
Profile Image for Meredith.
4,209 reviews73 followers
February 2, 2020
Mr. Dizzy is teased for his lack of cleverness by the other inhabitants of Cleverland, but when he drinks from a wishing well, he has the last laugh.

Poor Mr. Dizzy is not very clever and thinking makes his head spin, a trait which is magnified by residing in Cleverland. The clever folk of Cleverland regularly take advantage of Mr. Dizzy's discombobulated nature to have a laugh at his expense.

One day after two such incidents, Mr. Dizzy decides he doesn't want to talk to anyone else. There is a sad illustration of Mr. Dizzy shedding a tear. He takes a long walk during which he stumbles upon a well. When he drinks from the well, little does he know that it is a wishing well. And whomever drinks deeply from a wishing well will have his wish come true. Still feeling sad, Mr. Dizzy wishes he were clever, and his wish is granted.

When Mr. Dizzy encounters the two characters who ridiculed him earlier, he easily outwits them to their -- and his -- astonishment. Then he turns the tables and plays a trick on them.

As with Charlie Brown stories, Mr. Men and Little Miss stories often depict real meanness and real sadness. (Of course, children can be incredibly mean if they have a mind to, so this element shouldn't be surprising.) But unlike Charlie Brown, the belittled character usually comes out on top in the end.

When I picked up this book, I expected Mr. Dizzy to have vertigo or to spin round and round like a top instead of walking in a straight line. So, this story surprised me. Apparently, "dizzy" is an antiquated way of saying "stupid."
118 reviews
February 3, 2020
6 year old says... [Explains clearly to me about clotting blood, including platelets and how it all works]. My favourite bit of the story is when the elephant goes "I duppose doo dink dats fuddy"

40 year old says... Okay, there are two characters in this story who, as a parent and human being, make me absolutely furious. The clever pig and the clever elephant, openly mocking poor old Mr dizzy to the point he cries and doesn't want to be around anyone. Clearly shows that clever doesn't make you classy. Absolutely shameful. Whilst I don't believe in violence, I will turn a blind eye to Mr dizzy tying a knot in clever elephants trunk on this occasion because clever elephant is, in this story, a bit of a git. Well done Mr Dizzy for standing up to the bullys.
Profile Image for Bryn.
342 reviews
September 23, 2021
Mr. Dizzy was not very clever, until one day he drank from a wishing well. Soon after he became very clever, he used is new talents to mock and abuse his bullies . Which, I understand the motive, but I don't think assault is the answer. Neither the elephant nor the pig have the hands necessary to untie the knot in the elephant's trunk.

Plus, not all of us are clever, nor do we have access to wishing wells to make us clever. It would have been a better moral to the story if he found happiness in being less clever than all his snooty bully neighbors, or figured out that he was clever in a different kind of way (street smarts vs book smarts).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sean Harding.
5,756 reviews33 followers
December 30, 2018
Reading all these Mr Men books in one day could possibly make one dizzy - aha did it again - I told you all day I could just keep doing it all day - nope it doesn't make it better or more humorous but what the hay - let's live it up. Mr Dizzy thanks for the dizzy read and thanks Mr Hargreaves who has moved into #4 most read author of all time (#3 if you take out that nefarious author known as Anonymous!)
Profile Image for Mr H.
101 reviews
February 1, 2025
Let’s not get it twisted, he ain’t dizzy, he’s just ‘dumb’, ‘silly’, ‘stupid’, ‘an idiot’, ‘not real clever’.
Got a bit abusive towards the end. I read it while having my evening bottle and must admit I was quite famished and had a scream break half way through. Not my favorite Mr Men character by a long shot
27 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2019
Mr. Dizzy thinks the opposite of black is pink. Everybody is clever in Cleverland.

Mr. Dizzy tickles the pig's nose. He ties a knot in the elephant's trunk. Mr. Dizzy cries. He is clever.
Profile Image for Bre-Anne.
197 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2025
*3.25 stars*

He’s supposedly dizzy because he’s dumb and trying to be smart makes his head spin. I liked the justice towards his bullies, but there wasn’t really an ending and I think “Mr. Dizzy” could have been a more fun concept.
Profile Image for Slow Man.
1,057 reviews
June 13, 2019
Don’t be too clever. Don’t brag about it unless you are this story. The story gets very clever near the end. So what are you waiting for?
Profile Image for Kylie Abecca.
Author 9 books42 followers
January 4, 2020
While the jokes in this book were funny, I don’t think the bullying depicted was very nice, especially when the victim later became a bully himself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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