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Mr. Men #1
Mr. Tickle
You'll laugh until it hurts when Mr. Tickle goes on a terrific tickling spree!
36 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 1971
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 241 reviews
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July 29, 2015
There is nothing I want more than to be able to reach downstairs for a biscuit whilst in bed. Lucky bastard.
January 13, 2013
This book details a day in the life of he central character - Mr. Tickle who is quickly established as a classic anti-establishment figure in the manner of James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause", Peter Fonda in "Easy Rider" or Marlon Brando in "The Wild One".
Tickle goes about his day humiliating people in positions of authority, making them look stupid and disrupting the valuable work they are doing in the community and their contributions to the wider society.
Mr. Tickle breaks in to a school and tickles a teacher. Beyond that he attacks a policeman, a railway guard and a postman. Traffic is disrupted, trains run late and items belonging to the Royal Mail are damaged.
Tickle is a recidivist without morals or conscience. He’s an archetypal anarchist, intent on 'sticking it to the man'. It's easy to see why two-year-olds warm to him – his generation are the so-called "Terrible Twos", infants who are learning the norms of society by testing behavioural boundaries that have been established by their parents.
Mr. Tickle's motivations for disrupting these important functions of '70s society are unclear. He simply wakes up in the morning in the mood for mischief and embarks with glee on his trail of destruction. Tickle is a real sociopath but with obvious charisma and charm – a classic folk-hero figure.
The Mr. Tickle design has, in recent years, been given a makeover. His newer form shows a character in the midst of an uncontrollable (or forced?) giggling fit – a flamboyant (or attention-seeking?) display of glee at his antics. The original rendering simply shows Mr. Tickle sporting a large satisfied grin – it's the kind of grin that, upon seeing it, makes the observer want to smile too – a natural, unforced and contagious expression of happiness. Of course, as Tickle's repeated pattern of destruction comes to light, it's the kind of calm smile that hints at hidden depths and becomes an unnerving and unsettling expression of something far more sinister and intriguing.
At the end, it becomes clear this is a book for a parent and their child to enjoy together as the reader is encouraged to spring a surprise on their audience by tickling them. It's a genius interactive ending that cements this book's place as a children's classic.
Tickle goes about his day humiliating people in positions of authority, making them look stupid and disrupting the valuable work they are doing in the community and their contributions to the wider society.
Mr. Tickle breaks in to a school and tickles a teacher. Beyond that he attacks a policeman, a railway guard and a postman. Traffic is disrupted, trains run late and items belonging to the Royal Mail are damaged.
Tickle is a recidivist without morals or conscience. He’s an archetypal anarchist, intent on 'sticking it to the man'. It's easy to see why two-year-olds warm to him – his generation are the so-called "Terrible Twos", infants who are learning the norms of society by testing behavioural boundaries that have been established by their parents.
Mr. Tickle's motivations for disrupting these important functions of '70s society are unclear. He simply wakes up in the morning in the mood for mischief and embarks with glee on his trail of destruction. Tickle is a real sociopath but with obvious charisma and charm – a classic folk-hero figure.
The Mr. Tickle design has, in recent years, been given a makeover. His newer form shows a character in the midst of an uncontrollable (or forced?) giggling fit – a flamboyant (or attention-seeking?) display of glee at his antics. The original rendering simply shows Mr. Tickle sporting a large satisfied grin – it's the kind of grin that, upon seeing it, makes the observer want to smile too – a natural, unforced and contagious expression of happiness. Of course, as Tickle's repeated pattern of destruction comes to light, it's the kind of calm smile that hints at hidden depths and becomes an unnerving and unsettling expression of something far more sinister and intriguing.
At the end, it becomes clear this is a book for a parent and their child to enjoy together as the reader is encouraged to spring a surprise on their audience by tickling them. It's a genius interactive ending that cements this book's place as a children's classic.
March 1, 2018
This is the first of the series. This book was funny. What's funny is there were no repercussions for Mr. Tickle for tickling people. He got away with it. He is pretty sneaky with those long arms. This started the entire series, so it's appropriate that it starts with laughter.
My nephew told me to read this to him. Of course I had to. It is such a fun series.
My nephew told me to read this to him. Of course I had to. It is such a fun series.
November 26, 2016
This is one of my favourite Mr. Mr. books - so incredibly funny! Well, it is about Mr. Tickle but still - wonderful!
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November 26, 2023Mr. Tickle tickled everybody😅
November 14, 2014
A serial sexual predator, whom the authorities are unable or unwilling to stop, is brought to book by a member of the public. However, due to a lack of a suitable offender management programme, the doughty heroine becomes his next victim...
This slim work, more of a novella than a full novel, was written in a pre-Yewtree era but, with amazing prescience, Mr Hargeaves has captured the Zeitgeist of that period. He lays bare the failure of the establishment to address the issue of harassment in the face of overwhelming evidence. I expect to hear soon of Mr Tickle joining Dave Lee Travis and Stuart Hall in the dock of the Crown Court, while the Hitchcock-like twist at the end can be seen as a warning to the present-day government to avoid tinkering with the Probation Services.
This slim work, more of a novella than a full novel, was written in a pre-Yewtree era but, with amazing prescience, Mr Hargeaves has captured the Zeitgeist of that period. He lays bare the failure of the establishment to address the issue of harassment in the face of overwhelming evidence. I expect to hear soon of Mr Tickle joining Dave Lee Travis and Stuart Hall in the dock of the Crown Court, while the Hitchcock-like twist at the end can be seen as a warning to the present-day government to avoid tinkering with the Probation Services.
March 7, 2018
3.5 stars
The Mr. Men series is just brilliant! Roger Hargreaves does such a great job putting together stories about characters with particular attributes and places them in situations where these attributes are tested. Mr. Tickle was the first in the series and there really were no tests for this character with long, thin, wavy arms. He almost always got what he wanted! He could stay in his bed and get food from his refrigerator. He would go to different places and just tickle random people without them knowing about it, the funniest being the schoolteacher that he snuck up on in the middle of class. The only downside to this story was the execution in which this particular story was illustrated. While we get a view of the teacher in the classroom, we do not see Mr. Tickle tickling him in what would have been an extremely hysterical sight! While photos may not be able to capture every extraordinary moment, illustrations can and certainly should, especially if it is a creation. Aside from that gripe, Mr. Tickle told an extraordinary, laugh out loud story!
The Mr. Men series is just brilliant! Roger Hargreaves does such a great job putting together stories about characters with particular attributes and places them in situations where these attributes are tested. Mr. Tickle was the first in the series and there really were no tests for this character with long, thin, wavy arms. He almost always got what he wanted! He could stay in his bed and get food from his refrigerator. He would go to different places and just tickle random people without them knowing about it, the funniest being the schoolteacher that he snuck up on in the middle of class. The only downside to this story was the execution in which this particular story was illustrated. While we get a view of the teacher in the classroom, we do not see Mr. Tickle tickling him in what would have been an extremely hysterical sight! While photos may not be able to capture every extraordinary moment, illustrations can and certainly should, especially if it is a creation. Aside from that gripe, Mr. Tickle told an extraordinary, laugh out loud story!
June 11, 2021
Watching the documentary 50 Years of Mr. Men the other night has inspired me to return to these beloved childhood favourites.
Mr. Tickle is the first book in the series, which surprised me a little as I had it in my head that Mr. Happy was the first, for some reason. Perhaps Mr. Happy was the first one I read as a child.
Anyway, I was delighted to revisit Mr. Tickle and see that his mischievous tickling ways went entirely unpunished! Any children’s book these days would be obliged to have him be taught the error of his ways, so to have him unrepentant at the end of the book and continuing his tickling spree was very refreshing.
My next book: The Luck of Barry Lyndon
Mr. Tickle is the first book in the series, which surprised me a little as I had it in my head that Mr. Happy was the first, for some reason. Perhaps Mr. Happy was the first one I read as a child.
Anyway, I was delighted to revisit Mr. Tickle and see that his mischievous tickling ways went entirely unpunished! Any children’s book these days would be obliged to have him be taught the error of his ways, so to have him unrepentant at the end of the book and continuing his tickling spree was very refreshing.
My next book: The Luck of Barry Lyndon
July 23, 2025
aussi bien que Crime et Châtiment
November 19, 2017
And he went to town
18 November 2017
Boy is Mr Tickle a pest. Near the beginning of the book, after causing some mischief at school, much to the delight of the pupils, Hargreaves tells us that then 'Mr Tickle went to town.' I'm not entirely sure that what Hargeaves meant here is what we mean these days when we say that 'we go to town' (if that term is more than just an Australian term, which basically means to cause an incredible amount of havoc and destruction on an object, or person), but this is certainly what happen in the book. As a result of his antics, Mr Tickles causes trains to be late, letters to be lost, shops to be messed up, and a huge pile up at an intersection – much like this one:
Anyway, here I am, drinking some rather ordinary coffee out the back of a coffee shop on a lovely sunny Saturday. I had planned on going out and about, but it has turned out to be a perfect day to do so since it is absolutely beautiful – it certainly beats sitting around the home doing calculus (though a part of me does actually want to do some more calculus, but there is always time for that). Furthermore, it has been a while since I have read a Mr Men book, and while I am currently making my way through the brilliance that happens to be The Silmarilion, Mr Men books are short, quick to read, and it gives me the opportunity to write a couple of more reviews.
As for Mr Tickle, I guess it is a question between being a lot of fun, and being quite annoying. I would have to say that Mr Tickle falls into the second category, but for some reason he seems to get away with it. Mind you, with such long arms, he can get away with an awful lot, though it isn't as if those arms don't stand out. Still, he is able to get a cookie from his kitchen without actually leaving his bed – which is quite a feat, though I'm sure we will end up making robots to do that for us (or simply have children).
Well, this was a fun book, even though Mr Tickle basically got away with being a pest. Still, at least I now know the origin of the term 'and he went to town' (well, not quite, but it does make a good anecdote).
18 November 2017
Boy is Mr Tickle a pest. Near the beginning of the book, after causing some mischief at school, much to the delight of the pupils, Hargreaves tells us that then 'Mr Tickle went to town.' I'm not entirely sure that what Hargeaves meant here is what we mean these days when we say that 'we go to town' (if that term is more than just an Australian term, which basically means to cause an incredible amount of havoc and destruction on an object, or person), but this is certainly what happen in the book. As a result of his antics, Mr Tickles causes trains to be late, letters to be lost, shops to be messed up, and a huge pile up at an intersection – much like this one:
Anyway, here I am, drinking some rather ordinary coffee out the back of a coffee shop on a lovely sunny Saturday. I had planned on going out and about, but it has turned out to be a perfect day to do so since it is absolutely beautiful – it certainly beats sitting around the home doing calculus (though a part of me does actually want to do some more calculus, but there is always time for that). Furthermore, it has been a while since I have read a Mr Men book, and while I am currently making my way through the brilliance that happens to be The Silmarilion, Mr Men books are short, quick to read, and it gives me the opportunity to write a couple of more reviews.
As for Mr Tickle, I guess it is a question between being a lot of fun, and being quite annoying. I would have to say that Mr Tickle falls into the second category, but for some reason he seems to get away with it. Mind you, with such long arms, he can get away with an awful lot, though it isn't as if those arms don't stand out. Still, he is able to get a cookie from his kitchen without actually leaving his bed – which is quite a feat, though I'm sure we will end up making robots to do that for us (or simply have children).
Well, this was a fun book, even though Mr Tickle basically got away with being a pest. Still, at least I now know the origin of the term 'and he went to town' (well, not quite, but it does make a good anecdote).
April 27, 2017
This is the 1st Mr Men book in the collection and one of the best!
Mr Tickle has extraordinary long arms and loves to tickle! He tickles lots of people, from teachers to the postman, much to his own amusement! The story ends by warning young readers that Mr Tickle could be around the next corner the next time that u are feeling ticklish.
The story is brilliant to make interactive and tickle your child throughout. My niece went crazy for this and routinely pick this book out of the box set for that reason if nothing else. This isn't a book we use at bedtime now...!
The illustrations are brilliant: simple but eye-catchingly bright and complement the text wonderfully.
This is a classic for a reason; it's cheeky and funny and maintains my children's attention until the end. (even before we started tickling them!) A must-read!
Mr Tickle has extraordinary long arms and loves to tickle! He tickles lots of people, from teachers to the postman, much to his own amusement! The story ends by warning young readers that Mr Tickle could be around the next corner the next time that u are feeling ticklish.
The story is brilliant to make interactive and tickle your child throughout. My niece went crazy for this and routinely pick this book out of the box set for that reason if nothing else. This isn't a book we use at bedtime now...!
The illustrations are brilliant: simple but eye-catchingly bright and complement the text wonderfully.
This is a classic for a reason; it's cheeky and funny and maintains my children's attention until the end. (even before we started tickling them!) A must-read!
April 12, 2017
My 6 year old niece and I both loved this book. It's amazing either of us survived it, as we both tickled each other every time the word tickle was mentioned. I was out of breath and exhausted by the end of this book, ha ha :-)
April 12, 2026
low key scary. Mr. Tickle is quite evil
July 22, 2017
Mr Tickle was always one of my favorites from the Mr. Men series and let's face it if we had extraordinary long arms we'd most likely go around causing mischief too!
October 21, 2017
Always loved the books by Roger Hargreaves and Mr Tickle is a firm favourite with my grandchildren and also my children when they where young.
Recommended.
Recommended.
September 3, 2019
I hate ticklers and everything they stand for. May they all burn burn burn in the fiery pits of hell. Keep your hands to yourself, pricks.
May 4, 2021
Probably the best book I have ever read. If you are into Rogers books, this one is a must read. The fights were phenomenal, and I really enjoyed Mr. Tickles character development. He went from a weak small ball, to a confident, strong man. I would caution reading this if you cry easy.
December 30, 2021
Utterly chilling
April 16, 2015
I bought this book for a young friend of mine to add to his collection but thought that I would cheat and read it first ... and I am glad that I did for it tickled me!
Mr Tickle has long arms and can tickle people without them being aware that anyone was near them. He did it to the teacher, much to the amusement of the pupils and there was 'a terrible pandemonium', he tickled the greengrocer whose apples spilt all over the floor, he tickled the railway guard and the train was five minutes late in leaving, and he tickled the postman who dropped all his letters in a puddle.
And Mr Tickle enjoyed doing all these things and when he arrived home he sat back and laughed at all the people that he had tickled. The motto of the book is beware of Mr Tickle because you never know where he is.
Blimey I am being tickled as I write this ... where is he?
Mr Tickle has long arms and can tickle people without them being aware that anyone was near them. He did it to the teacher, much to the amusement of the pupils and there was 'a terrible pandemonium', he tickled the greengrocer whose apples spilt all over the floor, he tickled the railway guard and the train was five minutes late in leaving, and he tickled the postman who dropped all his letters in a puddle.
And Mr Tickle enjoyed doing all these things and when he arrived home he sat back and laughed at all the people that he had tickled. The motto of the book is beware of Mr Tickle because you never know where he is.
Blimey I am being tickled as I write this ... where is he?
May 29, 2018
Mr tickle is a flawed work. Mr tickle lives in a town where all the authority figures are men. Mr tickle tickles people, as far as we can make out, without asking them first. On the other hand, he only tickles figures of authority, to bring pandemonium, and joy to children. He can also get biscuits out of the tin without getting out of bed.
February 15, 2014
4,5 stars!
I loved those books when i was little!
And i'm so happy i found them again!
The simplicity behind the stories and the characteristics on Mr. Men and Little Miss series was just brilliant!!!
I loved those books when i was little!
And i'm so happy i found them again!
The simplicity behind the stories and the characteristics on Mr. Men and Little Miss series was just brilliant!!!
August 9, 2016
mate this is literature at its best
May 27, 2017
Never heard of these books before, but apparently they were quite popular back in the day. I would probably enjoy more books in this series.
June 19, 2025
I am not exaggerating when I say Mr. Tickle by Roger Hargreaves might be one of the most important books I have ever read. No, really — ever. It’s not Tolstoy. It’s not Dickens. It’s not Morrison or Márquez. But it is a cornerstone of joy in the architectural blueprint of my earliest memories. This tiny orange fellow with absurdly long arms and an unstoppable craving for harmless chaos left an indelible print on my heart — like a feather-light fingerprint from a tickling hand.
Let’s talk about Mr. Tickle. He’s the original mischief-maker. A rascal in the purest, most delightful sense. When he wakes up one morning and thinks, “I feel like tickling,” that’s not just a plot device — it’s a life philosophy. It’s the spark of whimsy that so many adult lives lose track of. Mr. Tickle reminds us that sometimes, you should follow your whims.
Roger Hargreaves’ illustrations are iconic — minimalist but deeply expressive. The bright, bold colors; the thick black outlines; the charming simplicity of Mr. Tickle’s absurdly long arms snaking around corners and through windows... it’s the visual equivalent of a hug from childhood. There’s something almost genius about how effective the drawings are — expressive without clutter, each line carefully considered.
But what truly elevates this book from a simple children’s story to a timeless classic is its perfect balance between the silly and the sinister. There’s a tiny edge to Mr. Tickle. You don’t know when or where he’ll strike next. He is a comedic trickster — the Loki of picture books. But unlike chaos gods, he’s all about laughter and fun. Yet as a child, I remember the thrill — the gleeful dread — of those long, sneaky arms. What if he tickles me next?
In this current era — where everything feels heavy, overanalyzed, and perpetually in crisis — picking up Mr. Tickle is like taking a gulp of fresh air from a simpler, sunnier day. It's a reminder that happiness can come in the silliest forms — like a giggle, a snaking orange arm, or an unexpected tickle.
5 stars.
Let’s talk about Mr. Tickle. He’s the original mischief-maker. A rascal in the purest, most delightful sense. When he wakes up one morning and thinks, “I feel like tickling,” that’s not just a plot device — it’s a life philosophy. It’s the spark of whimsy that so many adult lives lose track of. Mr. Tickle reminds us that sometimes, you should follow your whims.
Roger Hargreaves’ illustrations are iconic — minimalist but deeply expressive. The bright, bold colors; the thick black outlines; the charming simplicity of Mr. Tickle’s absurdly long arms snaking around corners and through windows... it’s the visual equivalent of a hug from childhood. There’s something almost genius about how effective the drawings are — expressive without clutter, each line carefully considered.
But what truly elevates this book from a simple children’s story to a timeless classic is its perfect balance between the silly and the sinister. There’s a tiny edge to Mr. Tickle. You don’t know when or where he’ll strike next. He is a comedic trickster — the Loki of picture books. But unlike chaos gods, he’s all about laughter and fun. Yet as a child, I remember the thrill — the gleeful dread — of those long, sneaky arms. What if he tickles me next?
In this current era — where everything feels heavy, overanalyzed, and perpetually in crisis — picking up Mr. Tickle is like taking a gulp of fresh air from a simpler, sunnier day. It's a reminder that happiness can come in the silliest forms — like a giggle, a snaking orange arm, or an unexpected tickle.
5 stars.
January 6, 2022
Interesting read but doesn't go deep enough in to the career of Jon Tickle. Very little mention of his time in the Big Brother house, nor his time spent on the Sky One show Brainiac or his career as a physicist.
Nonetheless, a great entry level book for fans of Jon's which leaves the reader intrigued but also wanting more. A sequel would be much anticipated.
Nonetheless, a great entry level book for fans of Jon's which leaves the reader intrigued but also wanting more. A sequel would be much anticipated.
Read
August 12, 2021Review to come.
The old Mr Tickle we've all grown up with, now with an included origin story.
The old Mr Tickle we've all grown up with, now with an included origin story.
September 16, 2025
Great fun to read with a baby, although Mr Tickle is hardly a role model
June 28, 2024
He's a menace
December 30, 2025
Favourite book of the year
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews