Horrid Henry

March 9, 2009
Horrid Henry, star of the enormously popular British series, is finally crossing over to the U.S., and kids who appreciate a mischievous streak will welcome his arrival. In this first book, Henry discovers that being good—like his brown-nosing, vegetable-loving brother, Perfect Peter—can be its own brand of mischief; Henry also disrupts his dance class and fights with his neighbor Moody Margaret (“When he put a spider on her arm, Margaret laughed. When he pulled her hair, Margaret pulled his harder”). In the fourth story, the family goes on vacation, where (as is often the case) Henry's antics work in his favor: on the rainy camping trip, he uses the tent pegs for a campfire, causing the tent to collapse and flood, and forcing his family to comfier accommodations. Henry's over-the-top behavior, the characters' snappy dialogue and Ross's hyperbolic line art will engage even the most reluctant readers—there's little reason to suspect the series won't conquer these shores as well. Pubs simultaneously with Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb
, Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
and Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy
; two additional volumes are due in June. Ages 7–10.

April 1, 2009
Gr 2-4-In the first book, four short chapters follow Henry as he tries to have a perfect day (and upstages his brother, Perfect Peter), disrupts a dance recital with his imitation of a pterodactyl, meets his piratical match in neighbor Moody Margaret, and sabotages a family camping vacation. In the second book, he constructs a time machine from a box and tricks his brother into believing it really does send him into the future, discovers surprises at a fancy French restaurant (he likes snails!), ruins a family walk in the country, and finds himself the target of his brother's revenge. Short, easy-to-read chapters will appeal to early readers, who will laugh at Henry's exaggerated antics and relate to his rambunctious personality. The boy always seems to end up getting what he wantsthough in roundabout waysand this series will most likely be as popular in the United States as it has been in Britain. Ross's comical illustrations perfectly complement the texts."Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2009
Grades 1-3 Horrid Henry is a big hit in the U.K., and now he has arrived on U.S. shores. The little devil is the counterpoint to his brother, Perfect Peter. This book features four short stories about the siblings. In the first and the funniest, Henry decides to be the perfect one for a change. This throws the family dynamics off-kilter and causes Peter to take a turn for the worse. In the second, Henry ruins a dance recital. Henry and his friend, Moody Margaret, play pirates in the third vignette but struggle over who willtake possession of Captain Hooks hook. And in the fourth, Horrid Henrys Holiday, Henry helps a camping trip go bad. Fine fare for beginning readers, this clever book should find a ready audience. Ross illustrations, which are reminiscent of Quentin Blakes work, add to the amusing goings-on.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)