I only recently discovered Books2Door when they got in touch to see if I’d like to review some of their children’s books. I have already reviewed a Books2Door supplied book by David Walliams here and today I’m thrilled to be able to review the 10 book box set Horrid Henry’s Mischievous Mayhem by Francesca Simon.

Horrid Henry’s Mischievous Mayhem is available for purchase here. Books2Door provide a fast and effective service with children’s books at great prices.

Horrid Henry’s Mischievous Mayhem

Be horrid. Be VERY horrid!

The naughty schoolboy is back in 10 utterly wicked, totally brilliant Horrid Henry books!

Children everywhere will enjoy the mayhem caused by the most horrible schoolboy ever!

Sure to provide laughs, squirms and screams as Horrid Henry causes chaos at home and at school.

Titles in this collection:
• Horrid Henry and the Bogey Babysitter
• Horrid Henry’s Stinkbomb
• Horrid Henry’s Underpants
• Horrid Henry Meets the Queen
• Horrid Henry and the Mega-mean Time Machine
• Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend
• Horrid Henry’s Christmas Cracker
• Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman
• Horrid Henry’s Jolly Joke Book
• Moody Margaret Strikes Back

My Review of Horrid Henry’s Mischievous Mayhem

Horrid Henry certainly is just that – horrid!

I’ve never read Horrid Henry books before so I had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t realised quite what an obnoxious lad he is. Children will love him! Horrid Henry does all the things we all wish we could do at times, from tormenting our siblings through our friends to our teachers, so that reading these stories it’s a bit like living vicariously without suffering the real effects and consequences. When Henry cuts Peter’s hair for Halloween it reminded me of the time I cut all the hair off my sister’s doll, rendering her name change from Blondie to Baldy, so that I think adults reading these stories with, or to, children will find as much to enjoy as do the youngsters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the imaginative elements to Francesca Simon’s writing and especially Henry’s attempts to make money. Despite the cunningly despicable behaviour Henry demonstrates, rarely does he get all his own way and frequently he’s sent to his bedroom as a punishment so that there’s quite a high level of morality in these stories. That aside, I like the independence of spirit Henry displays too when he takes his version of positives out of situations. He is completely irrepressible.

The language in the books is at a perfect level for children to read independently and I can imagine them reading by torchlight under the bed clothes in the same way Henry does. Tony Ross’s illustrations provide a brilliant extra layer of humour and I thought the alliterative names were super (not least that there is a Linda and Steve)!

This collection of ten books offers weeks of bedtime stories and entertainment. I have to confess I actually liked the Jolly Joke Book best as it transported me back to the daft jokes of my childhood and made me think of my lovely Dad who always enjoyed a joke. I may be very very late in life to be discovering Horrid Henry but I’m a glad I’ve discovered these stories to share with my great-nephew. Super fun.

About Francesca Simon

Francesca Simon spent her childhood on the beach in California and started writing stories at the age of eight. She wrote her first Horrid Henry book in 1994. Horrid Henry has gone on to conquer the globe; his adventures are published in 27 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide.

Francesca has won the Children’s Book of the Year Award and been a judge for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. In 2009, in one of the proudest moments of her career, Francesca was awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge.

Francesca is also a passionate ambassador for children’s literacy and is a trustee of the World Book Day charity. She lives in North London with her family.

You can find out more by visiting Francesca’s website and keep up-to-date with Horrid Henry here.

You can also follow Francesca on Twitter @simon_francesca.