
My brother and I had plenty of naughty moments growing up. We pretended to eat our vitamins and when no one was watching we hid them under the couch. We made up our very own outdoor game, a contest of sorts to see who could throw hunks of wet, muddy dirt the highest onto the side of the house (got into a lot of trouble for that one). We played barbershop and cut off chunks of our hair. Yes, like most children were we full of mischief and pranks, learning our boundaries.
Horrid Henry, the main character in Francesca Simon's book series, is the king of bad behavior. When you think of the naughty kid list of characters, for instance Dennis the Menace, Pippi Longstocking, Bart Simpson, Max from Where the Wild Things Are -- Horrid Henry ranks right up there. And kids love him. Kids like to read about silly, off the wall, absurd characters, the crazier the better. Add some sibling rivalry, boring parents and annoying friends to the mix and you've got a fun read. Just how horrid is Horrid Henry? Well, he picks on his little brother (aptly named "Perfect Peter"), ruins all family camping and hiking trips and pulls plenty of other mischievous stunts much to the dismay of his parents and teachers. He is one out of control child.
Hugely popular and originally published in the UK, the Horrid Henry series is new to America this year. Each book is actually a collection of 4 different short stories, perfect for those with short attention spans and reluctant readers. As far as children's books go, they fit right between early readers and chapter books. Titles currently available in the U.S. include the following four books:

Includes:
* Horrid Henry's Perfect Day
* Horrid Henry's Dance Class
* Horrid Henry and Moody Margaret
* Horrid Henry's Holiday

Includes:
* Horrid Henry's Hike
* Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
* Perfect Peter's Revenge
* Horrid Henry Dines at Restaurant Le Posh

Includes:
* Horrid Henry Reads a Book
* Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb
* Horrid Henry's School Project
* Horrid Henry Has a Sleepover

Includes:
* Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy
* Horrid Henry's Wedding
* Moody Margaret Moves In
* Horrid Henry's New Teacher
Two more books are scheduled for release in July: Horrid Henry and the Mummy’s Curse and Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend
As a participant in the Horrid Henry blog tour, Sourcebooks sent me the first four titles for review. When I first started reading the books, I thought that each story might have a sort of lesson, that Harry would be checked in some way. No lessons here; he just is downright naughty. Though sometimes the joke is turned on him, and those particular stories are my favorite. For instance, the tooth fairy doesn't fall for his sneaky switch, a sleepover doesn't go his way. In "Horrid Henry Reads a Book", Henry pretends to read and report on a ton of books so that he can win a prize to an adventure park and learns the hard way that some things aren't as they seem. "Horrid Henry Dines at Restaurant Le Posh" made me chuckle with references to tripe and escargots. The illustrations by Tony Ross are right on the mark, comically depicting pointy-nosed adults and disobedient children.
Some parents may be understandably put off by the antics of Harry. When questioned about the rebelliousness of her main character, in an interview with Telegraph.co.uk Simon replied that "We all want to kick against the traces, but Henry is naughty so you don't have to be." I think most children will realize that they shouldn't act as Harry does, but it is still fun to do a little imagining.
Related links:
Sourcebooks Horrid Henry Website
Francesca Simon - Author Website
Horrid Henry - Official UK Website
Horrid Henry - Facebook
Horrid Henry Teacher’s Guides
Download the Horrid Henry Activity Book
Try the Horrid Henry Maze Game
Glop Recipe Activity

The characters in the Horrid Henry books have alliterative adjective names that describe them (Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret, Prissy Polly, Rude Ralph, Beefy Bert, Greedy Graham and my favorite, Boudicca Battle-Axe). To enter, think of a name for a Horrid Henry character you'd like to see in the series, and leave it in the comment section.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
• Contest is open to US and Canada only
• Contest ends on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random and sent an email notification.
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
115 comments:
Hmm, an alliterative character name... maybe Skeevy Stevie.
These look like good reads, please enter me into this drawing.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
Meanie Martha.
I'd sure love to win these books! My boys would love them!!
I subscribe to your feed.
Follow on twitter and tweeted.
http://twitter.com/dezroute/status/2326138789
How about Scary Scott, or Fraidy Fred?
This sounds like a wonderful series to read with my kiddos!
Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a follower!
kysmom02 AT hotmail DOT com
How about Crabby Caitlin?
Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I follow your blog on Google Reader.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Oh, these look like a lot of fun. Thanks for holding the giveaway for us, and to Sourcebooks too of course. :-)
Let's see...
Crazy Cathy
Loud Lou
-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
I follow you as well.
-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
Ah, Dizzy Lizzy and Sappy Sam are two I can think of. Wow, this series would be so great to have for my two nephews. They would enoy them so much. Actually, so would I. I still love a lot of books for younger readers. These make me think of the Judy Blume series as well.
JDSG
lebizyb(at)q(dot)com
Email subscriber.
JDSG
lebizyb(at)q(dot)com
Ok this one sounds like fun!
Please include me in the giveaway.
journeythroughbooks@gmail.com
I love the whole concept behind Horrid Harry. As for a character, how about Zippy Zack.
cabadov (at) hotmail (dot) com
you always seem to have great reviews of kid literature, so I'm now subscribing to your feed through my google reader :-)
just tweeted about your review:
http://twitter.com/cbadov/status/2332658407
cabadov (at) hotmail (dot) com
How about Greedy Gwen, or Noisy Noelle.
tattling mimi
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com
Tumultuous Tina
ajcmeyer AT go DOT com
Oh how my kiddos need to hear these books.
How about the names "Sassy Sydnie" or "Bossy Brice"?
I am a follower.
I follow you on twitter and tweeted.
http://twitter.com/lovemy2doggies/status/2335430770
How about Clever Calvin?
Careless Chrissy!
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com
Email subscriber
jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com
Silly Sammy. =)
treflea4 at gmail dot com
Suscriber.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
How about Angry Alfred?
And I subscribe through RSS.
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
energetic emily :)
subscribe
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/2339532518
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/
I pick Henry. I know my grandson and 3 year old daughter would like these books. Thanks.
gahome2mom at gmail dot com
subsriber
gahome2mom at gmail dot com
blogged (right now)
gahome2mom at gmail dot
comhttp://www.lovingheartdesigns.com/2009/06/tgif-giveaways.html
I've also blogged about this giveaway here.
Thanks,
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
How about Sally Sunshine?
I soooooo want these books for my nephew! Thanks for the chance to win them!
My suggested name is "Jokin' Joe."
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
. . . and, I'm a Follower in Google Reader.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I follow you on Twitter and here's my tweet: https://twitter.com/ASeaOfBooks/status/2344510195
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Banana's Anna
Goofy Gabe
I follow.
I like Nervous Ned or anxious Allie
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
I enjoyed reviewing these books too.
Max Elliot Anderson
Books For Boys Blog
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
I'd like to read about Pouty Paul! I'll be looking for these books, my grandson(6)would love them. Last summer he introduced me to "No, David!" and we read them over and over.
Exquisite Edith. ;)
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I follow.
follow you(sendtocindy) and tweeted.
http://twitter.com/sendtocindy/status/2350141532
How about naughty Natalie.
How about...Hectic Heather?
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subsrcibe.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
How about mean jean
How about Screaming Sarina?
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
I subscribe via email.
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
Zaney Zack and Jungle Rot Josh.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I subscribe.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Silly Sally
How about "Obnoxious Oliver"?
nscandurro(at)cox(dot)net
I'm a subscriber
nscandurro(at)cox(dot)net
I'd like to see Nasty Nick. I'm sure him and Henry would make really bad friends. Thank you!
I'm a subscriber.
I follow on Twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/2375104510
Nasty Nancy or Bossy Ben
follower
tweeted - http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/2390282001
How about Boasting Betty?
Thanks!
My 5 year old would love these books!!
I'm following by feedburner
following on twitter and I tweeted! http://twitter.com/addictedknitter/status/2390754620
I'll go with Sassy Sally.
These books sound like they'd be right up my son's alley!
I'm following your blog!
I'm following on twitter as stlyhu and tweeted here: http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com/2009/06/horrid-henry-series-review-and-book.html
I would add halitosis herb.
Thanks for the chance to win!!
bsyb100 at gmail dot com
How about Bossy Betty
sylviawhit@gmail.com
I subscribe
sylviawhit@gmail.com
I'd write in the character Excellent Evan.
I subscribe!
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/amweeks/status/2418238751
yUCKY lUCKY? a odd name but would work
Cute idea. How about Troublesome Tommy?
Spoiled Sally!
I follow your blog!
terrible tommy
taunting tommy
silly sassy susie
whiny wendy
madamerkf at aol dot com
Grubby Greg sounds like a fun name.
Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
How about Silly Sally? Or Smelly Smedley? Or Talkative Trevor? These books sound great! I bet my 6-year-old would love them!
Cute books!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow!
please enter me!
holly.kay.lee (at) gmail (dot) com
I'd like to see Whiney Winnie in the books.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
I'd like to see Whiney Winnie in the books.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
Hautey Hortense.
follower
Good. THESE are the books I like to read. Something to cause me to laugh until I am absolutely CRYING from laughter.
I dunno if I would even attempt to show my sister, who is having a baby in Dec. this sort of material. She'd get frightened. I DON'T wanna give HER kids any ideas. So it would def. stay in MY bookshelf.
devonm @ sasktel dot NET
I have followed you on Twitter
#jmintuck
devonm @ sasktel DOT NET
I have you followed in a reader.
devonm @ sasktel dot NET
Please enter me in your giveaway!
Thanks for a SUPER giveaway=)
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net
I became a follower=)
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net
I'd have such fun introducing my daughter to this! :)
I'm a follower
Just-a-minute Janet
What a Horridly good giveaway!
hawkes(at)citlink.net
I'm a NEW e-mail subscriber
hawkes(at)citlink.net
Lets see a name..hummm...how about Kenna Bo-benna bubble-head!! Thats the name of my daughter Kenna :o)
Thanks for the giveaway sign me up I LOVE all your books.
I subscribe to you, I follow you, and I Goggle Read you.
Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com
My son would be thrilled if I won this. :)
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Silly Sally
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
email subscriber
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
How about Sneaky Steve or Rebellious Ricky! My son would love to read these books!
jls_wss2003 at yahoo dot com
I subscribe via email!
jls_wss2003 at yahoo dot com
How about Snooty Sally or Nerdy Nate
Stanky Sally!
subscriber
How about Lyin' Lee?
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
Follower (liane66)
snitchy susie thanks for the chance eaglesforjack@gmail.com
i follow thanks eaglesforjack@gmail.com
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