AIBU to loathe Horrid Henry?

[YouBloodyWolf]

There isn't one single sympathetic character in the books - not even a loveable miscreant. The children are all nasty, petty, selfish brats with no redeeming features and the adults are just worn-down, bitter and defeated. It's like Eastenders for kids. The stories seem to revolve around selfishness and pointless antagonism and I don't think I've ever seen a decent moral ending where one of the little bastards gets eaten by a rabid dog.

I'm going to write some fanfic where they all get transported to the world of Strewwel Peter.

I don't like them but children do. Children very often like books that don't appeal to adults- it is part of the fun of reading!

YANBU

So many better written books. I would love to ban them but that would only add to the appeal. Thankfully DD moved on quickly. DS on the other hand may love them. If they encourage him to read then I'll just have to live with it.

Awful awful books.

I have 5ds'.One of them was a reluctant reader but he loves horrid Henry. I am a bitat some of the things written especially in the joke book but it is very hard to get some children reading & these do appeal to them.

It certainly will add to the appeal if you are vocal about not liking them! Just let them get on with it and they will be a short phase.

Got to admit, I do kind of like them having a 'subversive' book that they know I dislike. I don't think that's a bad thing at all.

They're not to my taste but DS liked them when he was younger. If it helps them learn to love reading it's got to be a good thing, and they do grow out of it.

I'm still not sure it was the best choice for a topic in year 1, but if it gets them reading it can't be too bad. DD is a big reader anyway but some in her class weren't.

Dennis the Menace - he's norty but loveable. Henry's just a little shit.

I think there's a awful lot of children's books where there is a "naughty" character who deliberately causes problems, then at the end says "aw sorry" and everyone clears up after them saying "doesn't matter"

I can't really see the appeal of the Horrid Henry books. The stories aren't particularly imaginative and Henry comes across as a brat as opposed to a well meaning but mischievous child such as Willliam in the Richmal Crompton books.

As an adult there is no need to see the appeal! DCs love books that adults hate. They grow out of them.

I loathe Horrid Henry's mum! I sort of feel sorry for Henry. My DD (now 14) was never that interested in the books, but the children in the school library where I volunteer love him! I'm fairly certain that many of them wouldn't read a book for pleasure if it wasn't for HH.

I bought one as I heard that small boys ( ds is 5) liked them. He hated it and asked me to give it away. He disliked how Henry behaved and how rude he was.
I was pretty relieved:)

I did think of the justwilliam books, woud they be suitable for a 5 yr old? I plan to get the faraway tree tomorrow, any other suggestions welcome please..
He loves being read to and reading himself. He will have a go at anything, even my lee child:)

LOL! That has to be my quote of the week...

Dennis the Menace - he's norty but loveable. Henry's just a little shit.

I hate HH, thankfully my dc weren't interested in the books because they- are drivel--.

I loved them - I like the rhythm and simplicity of them. I once (years ago) took the girls to watch Francesca Simon read one of her latest stories to a group of children - Horrid Henry and the Museum Visit - and she had them eating from the palm of her hand - much more entertaining than Jacqueline Wilson. Francesca Simon reminds me a lot of Roald Dahl. I don't think much of the "literary quality" of his writing for children either, but I really appreciate how his anarchic and subversive stories appeal to children, and how characters can be so black and white - almost as if they are just meant as a sort of personification of one particular character trait e.g. greediness, rudeness or whatever.

YANBU, I banned the tv programme chez nous after it seemed to affect my 5yo DS's behaviour.
All hideous characters.

YANBU. I hate the bullying little shit. Give me loveable Dirty Bertie any day.

I can't stand the voice on the TV show.

Or those weird pink nosetips they all have.

I think they're funny.
And v easy for kids to read which is nice as they're not quite up to Just William yet.

I don't like them either. luckily my 2 daughters have seen the TV programme once or twice, decided they didn't like it and won't touch the books with a barge pole even though some of their friends like them.

I was quite disappointed when I looked in WHSmith for more early reader books and they had 2 that weren't Horrid Henry or Moody Margaret.

lots of current children's books are drivel but there is just something about Horrid Henry I don't like. Just William, The Naughtiest Girl in the School are about naughty children but just different in how they are written.