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Primary education

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Original poster

Is this book suitable?

14 replies

Nicolamarlow1 · 02/11/2019 15:39

My DGD reads aloud to me twice a week. She is 6 and a good reader. I have just bought 'Horrid Henry's Underpants' for her, but on looking through it, I see there are mentions of 'de-bagging,' i.e. pulling trousers down. I am not sure that this is appropriate material for a 6 year old girl. Should I just ditch the book and buy something else?

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TeenPlusTwenties · 02/11/2019 15:43

I guess it depends on the context of the story.

Is the child is upset and laughed at with no 'moral' that it is wrong?

Or is Henry told off and suitably punished?

Is the aim to upset the other child, or just to see superman underpants?

Idontlikeitsomuch · 02/11/2019 20:38

Many children reads Horrid Henry in ks1. But I don't think it's appropriate for everyone. Some find it funny. Some find it offensive. I think it's up to each child.
I don't get it that if you thought it wasn't good for your dgd, why did you buy the book with the title "... underpants." There are so many books to choose from.

Changemyname18 · 02/11/2019 20:45

If you don't like the book and don't think it is appropriate, ditch it. My eldest was given some Horrid Henry at the same age, and I thought they were pretty terrible too. There are so many better books out there for children. Just because these are popular, doesn't make them good for everyone. DC now older never liked Harry Potter or Michael Morpurgo either, (clearly these are not as crude as Horrid Henry , but sell lots too), just enjoy the journey of finding something you DC (and you) like as it's so important to read together for many years to come.

Changemyname18 · 02/11/2019 20:46

Apologies, DGC

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 02/11/2019 20:50

DD hated Horrid Henry and wouldn't watch the programme or read the books. She doesn't like people being told off and found it upsetting.As for whether it's suitable for a 6 year old girl it depends on the title. DD did love the 'Dinosaur that poops...' series from Tom Fletcher and found it hilarious as well as the Captain Underpants books when she was older

I would buy books from the book people they are exceptionally good value for money and there are good reviews and age guidelines which might help you chose.

I think (it's a while ago) Dd liked Roald Dahl at that age and I bought her the book set and audio book set from the book people so that she could read along. They lasted along time as some of them are easier 'Nelly, Pelky and me' whereas she didn't read the witches untill last year when she was 9 as its scarier and the language more difficult.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 02/11/2019 20:51

*depends on the child.
*Nelly, Pelly and me

maybejustmaybe · 02/11/2019 20:53

Mine liked it at that age and started acting out some of the things. I ditched the books and don’t let them watch the tv show. The mum shows no love which is the worst part of all

Idontlikeitsomuch · 02/11/2019 20:59

My dc loved it. But I really hate them. It's mean, horrible and nasty. Henry takes mickey out of his younger brother who is a good boy. It could be funny for some, and maybe encourage some children to read books. But if she is a lover of the books, not a good choice at all. There are many other better books.

bookmum08 · 02/11/2019 21:04

Horrid Henry books are awful books became all the character's in them are dreadful little s**ts and each story is pretty much the same.
Children love these books though.

IceCreamConewithaflake · 02/11/2019 21:08

Yes it's suitable for a 6 year old. My kids found them hilarious and they hooked my reluctant reader and got them into books.

HundredsAndThousandsOfThem · 03/11/2019 09:02

My DC both brought horrid Henry books home from school in Y1 so must have been 5-6 years old. I can't say I missed them when they grew onto other books but I wouldn't go so far as to find them inappropriate either.

In a similar vein they might like diary of a wimpy kid which is a bit less puerile.

Kuponut · 03/11/2019 17:44

The plot of the story as I recall it is that Henry got given some girl knickers by a distant relative, threw them in his pants drawer intending them to be disposed of later and then accidentally put them on for school - right when the pulling trousers down craze was at its height (which Henry started).

My kids read them - they're not the greatest in the world but they fill that niche between picture books and longer chapter books which is still a little bit of a dead spot at times. I'd rather sit through Horrid Henry (mine read them toward the middle of Y1ish) than the fucking Rainbow Fairies to be fair.

There's a load of Young Readers books by one of the publishers which Horrid Henry fits into which have a load of other titles and are loosely graded in difficulty by the three colour bands if you're looking for something alternative. Mine were onto longer books quite rapidly to be fair (with a detour down turgid Rainbow Fairies alley)

TeenPlusTwenties · 05/11/2019 14:55

At least HH books have a plot and characters.
The Rainbow Fairies books are all the same, I've never come across a series so formulaic and boring in all my life. I'd rather read 50 HH than 1 RF book.

lionsonplanes · 05/11/2019 19:05

My two read them at about 5. They are not my favourite, but the children seemed to enjoy them. Henry always gets his comeuppance when he behaves badly. Things always end well for him when he has been treated badly. Anything that gets children to read is OK with me. As a PP said, there are loads of books in the Early Reader series, so you can probably find some that you like better.

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