Horrid Henry is the main character in a collection of books each containing 4 stories each of boyhood mischief. The newest addition is Horrid Henry Rocks . In Horrid Henry Rocks, Henry is at it again – pestering his brother Perfect Peter, annoying his neighbor Moody Margaret, clowning in Miss Battle-Axe’s class, and being just plain horrid in the community.

The draw to Horrid Henry Rocks is definitely NOT for the adults. The Horrid Henry collection was designed for ages 7-10 (about 1^st-5^th grade). These anticay tales will captivate your child if they like books such as Captain Underpants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Horrid Henry Rocks is an early chapter book with a comic book feel offering mischievous, immature humor, and is designed for younger readers who can joke and understand sarcastic, over-dramatized stories. For these reasons, even reluctant readers will enjoy Horrid Henry Rocks. All readers will appreciate these short chapters (about 25 pages each) as read aloud as well as for some silent reading as if offers easy break points.

“What is brilliant about the books I that Henry never does anything that is subversive. She [author, Francesca Simon] creates an aura of supreme naughtiness (of which children are in awe) but points out that he operates within a safe and secure world … eminently readable books.” – Emily Turner, Angels and Urchins

In some ways I agree that any book that gets kids reading is a good book. However, as a parent and educator (I have my Master of Arts in Teaching for K-8, and am a Washington State certified teacher) I do take notes and cringe at lines such as the lyrics from Henry’s favorite band, The Killer Boy Rats, written into the text:

“Granny on her crutches, Push her off her cair, Shove Shove Shove Shove, Shove her down the stairs.”

“Boils on your fat face, Boils make you dumb, Chop Chop Chop ‘em off, Stick ‘em on your bum!”

“I’m dead, you’re dead, we’re dead. Get over it. Dead is great, dead’s where it’ at ‘cause…”

Surely egregious but do I want my kids reading it? I’m unsure. I call into question the nature of our society’s lack of shivery, common courteous’, and the ability for young ones to express themselves in proper rhetoric. Does a book such as this send messages to our children that his behavior is okay as long as you’re over the top and doing it all for comedy’s sake?

I believe these are thoughts other parents might have too. In my own life these questions could be asked as well. I love mystery books, but I’m nowhere close to a detective or evil mastermind. I enjoy romantic-comedy movies but I don’t believe all romances end happily and I certainly don’t expect a “Prince Charming” out of my husband. So a juvenile fiction early chapter book about a horrid boy and his antics can also just be laugh out loud, lovably bad, and just plain enjoyment reading. You should decide if this book is the right fit for your children and family, you can read a sample using Amazon’s “Look Inside”.

Horrid Henry is currently the #1 chapter book series in the UK. He is worldwide with over 15 million copies sold in 27 countries and counting. Author Francesca Simon has written over forty-five books and won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the Galaxy British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman (an honor shared with the likes of J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, and Eoin Colfer). Illustrator Tony Ross’s line art is found throughout the Horrid Henry series. Ross has also illustrated the Sir Gadabout stories and other picture books (including his own works) which are sold all around the world.

Other Horrid Henry Books include:
Horrid Henry
Horrid Henry’s Stinkbomb
Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy
Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
Horrid Henry and the Soccer Field
Horrid Henry and the Mummy’s Curse
Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter
Horrid Henry’s Christmas
Horrid Henry’s Underpants
Horrid Henry’s Joke Book

You can find Horrid Henry Rocks on book shelves and internet stores now for only $4.99 (USD)!

You can find more Horrid Henry stuff at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. You can learn more about the publishing of Sourcebooks, Inc. on their site, Like Sourcebooks on Facebook, and track them on Twitter @Sourcebooks Team.

You can also Like Horrid Henry on Facebook.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.