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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really dislike horrid henry

59 replies

Baklavanlava · 22/07/2021 16:33

My DC was bought a set of books for a present and since then appears to have picked up lots of horrid Henry's behaviour, in particular name calling / winding up their younger sibling.

Am I the only one? I don't really like objecting to books, but I really don't like this set (maybe my DC is just a bit young for them and so the copycat behaviour is worse). I think I need to find a way to disappear them...AIBU?!

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 22/07/2021 16:49

I love a bit of Horrid Henry. For my kids they didn’t lead to bad behaviour any more than watching Doc McStuffins made them vets. It was good to talk about the stuff Henry did, we would say why is Henry doing that/will that make Peter sad etc. Of course if your child is too young for them it’s a different situation.

TheGenealogist · 22/07/2021 16:50

I disliked him a lot too. He is so mean and so nasty to everyone, and his parents are fucking useless.

lightstar91 · 22/07/2021 16:54

I am sooo with you on this one, I remember years back when my youngest cousin was around 4 she used to watch this and creepily when Henry did something sinister I could see the joy in her eyes and it was quite creepy! Yes! She was very badly behaved. I wouldn't encourage my son to watch how to be a little 🥑

StepladderToHeaven · 22/07/2021 16:55

OP, the thing I love about Horrid Henry (that you may not have noticed, but you will if you start looking) is the feminist aspect. The mum and dad in the story are really equal partners in terms of working, making packed lunches etc, and a lot of the traditionally male roles (eg the doctor) are filled by women.

I liked this aspect so much (compared to many other children's stories) that I was able to overlook the silly but harmless behaviour.

Newrumpus · 22/07/2021 16:55

The clue is in the name!

littlepeas · 22/07/2021 16:55

Hmmm. I think his parents with their clear favouritism and his smug little brother are worse.

chunderwunder · 22/07/2021 16:58

Me too. And something Bertie as well? My son was bought a set but I found it so trite and unimaginative. Full of clichés about getting one over on people and how rubbish and annoying teachers are.

SusanBAnthony999 · 22/07/2021 16:58

You are not really the target audience! Your DC are.

He is just like Dennis the Menace and his brother is Walter. Kids love him.

Notavegan · 22/07/2021 16:59

We had it home from school and me and my daughter just didn't get it at all. Won't read again

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 22/07/2021 17:00

Everyone in Horrid Henry is horrid. I don't blame Henry for being awful.

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 22/07/2021 17:10

I think that's the point, isn't? You are not meant to like him. He is meant to be horrid. My 7yo DS enjoys the books and doesn't identify with Henry. DS is pretty immature but he can see how Henry is causing all these horrific situations through his bad behaviour.

From a parent point of view I don't mind the books. They are short and sweet and good to expand language / vocab.

samwitwicky · 22/07/2021 17:12

@TheGenealogist

I disliked him a lot too. He is so mean and so nasty to everyone, and his parents are fucking useless.
OMG yes. I don't mind it per se, but the parents drive me fucking potty.
anon12345678901 · 22/07/2021 17:14

@littlepeas

Hmmm. I think his parents with their clear favouritism and his smug little brother are worse.
His brother was the most irritating character for me when I used to read these with my son or watch them. Just so annoying!
OhRene · 22/07/2021 17:14

If Horrid Henry was my kid he'd have had a good hiding by now! Obnoxious little shite he is! And his parents are fecking useless.

ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 22/07/2021 17:20

The first book DS1 voluntarily read from cover to cover was a Horrid Henry book. It has since been signed by Franchesca Simon. So whatever I think of Horrid Henry personally (actually I prefer him to Perfect Peter) I will always love the books.

robotcollision · 22/07/2021 17:22

I hated it too. It took us a few really miserable long journeys to realise that our kids squabbling in a really nasty way in the back of the car was caused by listening to audios of those bloody books. We ditched them and put on other books and had harmonious journeys from then on. They model vile behaviour in everyone.

DrSbaitso · 22/07/2021 17:22

I've read plenty of wonderful books with unpleasant protagonists.

Strokethefurrywall · 22/07/2021 17:24

I hate it so much it’s banned in our house. Awful, screechy, shitbag characters.

rantymcrantface66 · 22/07/2021 17:28

How old is your dc? Horrid Henry comes in early reader form so aimed at around age 4+.

robotcollision · 22/07/2021 17:32

@DrSbaitso

I've read plenty of wonderful books with unpleasant protagonists.
We probably have too. There's just something so provocative about HH, as though he is bating children to copy his behaviour. Much prefer Just William or Captain Underpants
Wincher · 22/07/2021 17:32

We had to ban it for a time as it made my son really badly behaved… but now we’ve softened on that as he really loves both reading and watching it, and he’s nearly 8 and it doesn’t seem to affect him in the way it once did. I agree the parents are useless. If they actually listened to Henry and didn’t always assume the worst of him they might get better results… Expect the behaviour you want to see! Praise the good and ignore the bad! And all that.

thecatfromjapan · 22/07/2021 17:33

The language is great.

Can't you discuss why he is the way he is with them?

I think the whole point of the books is that he's 'out there' and not a role model. Most children can handle that distinction between realism and its opposite, between 'improving' texts and forms of comedy. Much like 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea.' Tigers don't really come to tea and you wouldn't really want a tiger in your house.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 22/07/2021 17:48

Well Peppa is also a bossy little madam.
My kids grew up watching Disney channel in the main, and that had plenty of 'naughty' characters that seemed to escape any punishment. I don't remember them copying anything other than the American vocabulary

MyShoelaceIsUndone · 22/07/2021 17:55

I think his little brother is awful, Henry is cheeky but his brother wow

Penistoe · 22/07/2021 18:03

I remember reading something about Henry being that way because his parents favoured Peter. Poor Henry Grin

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