Horrid Henry
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Horrid Henry is a children's book series by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross. The first Horrid Henry book was written and published in 1994 by Orion Books and as of 2019, there will be twenty-five titles published, as well as many other collections, activity books and joke books. Novel Entertainment produced an animated television series for CITV. It is a slice-of-life series featuring the titular Henry, a self-centred, naughty boy who has issues with authority who will typically be faced with a problem and then will often retaliate in interesting ways that involve trickery, rule-breaking and elaborate practical jokes. Henry has a younger brother, who he bullies, called Perfect Peter, who is the exact opposite of Henry. Almost every character is known by an alliterative nickname followed by their first name (Rude Ralph, Moody Margaret, Brainy Brian etc.) With a few exemptions: (Mum, Dad, Rich Aunt Ruby).
Books
The Horrid Henry stories are read on audiobook by the actress Miranda Richardson and published by Orion Audio. The combined sales of all the Horrid Henry books and audiobooks now stands at over 20,000,000 copies.[citation needed] Horrid Henry is published in twenty five languages around the world. In April 2009, the US Sourcebooks' Jabberwocky imprint released four Horrid Henry paperbacks nationwide which included "Horrid Henry," "Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb," "Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine," and "Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy." Sourcebooks has released additional Horrid Henry titles including activity pages, event kits and a teacher's guide.[1]
Storybooks
- Horrid Henry (1994)
- Horrid Henry: Secret Club (1995)
- Horrid Henry: Tricking the Tooth Fairy (1996)
- Horrid Henry: Nits, Nits, Nits (1997)
- Horrid Henry: Get Rich Quick (1998)
- Horrid Henry: The Haunted House (1999)
- Horrid Henry: The Mummy's Curse (2000)
- Horrid Henry: Perfect Revenge (2001)
- Horrid Henry: Bogey Babysitter (2002)
- Horrid Henry: Stinkbombs (2002)
- Horrid Henry: Underpants Panic (2003)
- Horrid Henry: The Queen's Visit (2004)
- Horrid Henry: Mega-Mean Time Machine (2005)
- Horrid Henry: Football Fiend (2006)
- Horrid Henry: Christmas Cracker (2006)
- Horrid Henry: Abominable Snowman (2007)
- Horrid Henry: Bank Robber (2008)
- Horrid Henry: Waking the Dead (2009)
- Horrid Henry: Rock Star (2010)
- Horrid Henry: Zombie Vampire (2011)
- Horrid Henry: Monster Movie (2012)
- Horrid Henry: Nightmare (2013)
- Horrid Henry: Krazy Ketchup (2014)
- Horrid Henry: Cannibal Curse (2015)
- Horrid Henry: Up, Up and Away! (2019)
Early Readers
- Don't Be Horrid, Henry!" (illustrated by Kevin McAleenan in 2000, then Tony Ross in 2006)
- Horrid Henry's Birthday Party" (previously released from Horrid Henry: Secret Club)
- Horrid Henry's Holiday (previously released from Horrid Henry)
- Horrid Henry's Underpants (previously released from Horrid Henry: Underpants Panic)
- Horrid Henry Gets Rich Quick (previously released from Horrid Henry: Getting Rich Quick)
- Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend (previously released from Horrid Henry: Football Fiend)
- Horrid Henry's Nits (previously released from Horrid Henry: Nits, Nits, Nits)
- Horrid Henry and Moody Margaret (previously released from Horrid Henry)
- Horrid Henry's Thank You Letter (previously released from Horrid Henry: Underpants Panic)
- Horrid Henry Reads a Book (previously released from Horrid Henry: Stinkbombs)
- Horrid Henry's Car Journey (previously released from Horrid Henry: Bogey Babysitter)
- Moody Margaret's School (previously released from Horrid Henry: Bank Robber)
- Horrid Henry Tricks and Treats (previously released from Horrid Henry: Bogey Babysitter)
- Horrid Henry's Christmas Play (previously released from Horrid Henry: Christmas Cracker)
- Horrid Henry's Rainy Day (previously released from Horrid Henry: Abominable Snowman)
- Horrid Henry Meets the Queen (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Queen's Visit)
- Horrid Henry's Sports Day (previously released from Horrid Henry: Getting Rich Quick)
- Horrid Henry's Christmas Presents (previously released from Horrid Henry: Christmas Cracker)
- Moody Margaret's Makeover (previously released from Horrid Henry: Abominable Snowman
- Horrid Henry and the Demon Dinner Lady (previously released from Horrid Henry: Perfect Revenge)
- Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy (previously released from Horrid Henry: Tricking the Tooth Fairy)
- Horrid Henry's Homework (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Mummy's Curse)
- Horrid Henry and the Bogey Babysitter (previously released from Horrid Henry: Bogey Babysitter)
- Horrid Henry's Sleepover (previously released from Horrid Henry: Stinkbombs)
- Horrid Henry's Wedding (previously released from Horrid Henry: Tricking the Tooth Fairy)
- Horrid Henry's Haunted House (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Haunted House)
- Horrid Henry's Christmas Lunch (previously released from Horrid Henry: Christmas Cracker)
- Horrid Henry's Mother's Day (previously released from Horrid Henry: Nightmare)
- Horrid Henry and the Comfy Black Chair (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Haunted House)
- Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Mummy's Curse)
- Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman (previously released from Horrid Henry: Abominable Snowman)
- Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine (previously released from Horrid Henry: Mega-Mean Time Machine)
- Horrid Henry and the Fangmangler (previously released from Horrid Henry: Nits, Nits, Nits)
- Horrid Henry's Christmas Ambush (previously released from Horrid Henry: Christmas Cracker)
- Horrid Henry's Swimming Lesson (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Mummy's Curse)
- Horrid Henry's Christmas (previously released from Horrid Henry: Getting Rich Quick)
- Horrid Henry's School Fair (previously released from Horrid Henry: The Haunted House)
- Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb (previously released from Horrid Henry: Stinkbombs)
- Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire (previously released from Horrid Henry: Zombie Vampire)
- Horrid Henry's Hike (previously released from Horrid Henry: Mega-Mean Time Machine)
- Horrid Henry's Injection (previously released from Horrid Henry: Secret Club)
Broadcast adaptations
Television adaptation
In May 2006, CITV announced that an animated TV series of 52 episodes[2] based on the Horrid Henry books had been commissioned from Novel Entertainment. The show officially launched in October 2006, for Halloween. The series subsequently launched on television in: Germany, France, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, Scandinavia, Singapore, Poland, South Africa, Turkey & Korea.[3]
The series quickly became CITV's most successful series ever. Horrid Henry was on CITV every weekday, and on ITV at the weekends. A second series of a further 52, all new episodes of Horrid Henry was launched in February 2009, and a third series began on 22 July 2011, and started being broadcast onwards from 3 September 2011.[4] A fourth series started on 11 October 2014. It aired every weekend at 8:15/8:20/8:25am on CITV and reruns on weekend daytime or weekdays.[5]
In May 2018, Novel Entertainment announced that Nickelodeon UK had acquired all the seasons to the show, and that they would air on Nicktoons later on during the month.[1] They also announced a new fifth season that would also air on Nicktoons. It is unknown when it will air.
Radio adaptation
During August & December 2009, Henry took to the airwaves with his own radio show on Fun Kids Radio, hosting a weekly show of comedy and music.[6]
Film adaptation

On 23 June 2010, Vertigo Films announced that a live action 3-D film of Horrid Henry was in production. The film's plot focuses on Henry and The Purple Hand Gang fighting to prevent the closure of their school by an evil private school Headmaster. It is unknown if a sequel will be made.[7]
The film was released on 29 July 2011 in the United Kingdom and 11 January 2013 in Australia.
Video game adaptations
A video game titled Horrid Henry: Missions of Mischief was released for the Nintendo DS, Wii, and PC on 30 October 2009. Another video game titled Horrid Henry's Horrid Adventure was released for the Nintendo DS on 5 November 2010. It was negatively reviewed by Nintendo Gamer, who gave it a score of 40%. Horrid Henry: The Good, The Bad, and the Bugly was released for the Nintendo 3DS on 25 November 2011. In 2015, Horrid Henry’s Big Box Of Pranks released as an app which is available for iOS devices.
Reception
- In April 2008 "Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman" won the Galaxy Children's book of the Year Award.
- Horrid Henry has twice been nominated for BAFTA's Best Animation; in 2009 and 2010.
- On 23 November 2018, the show’s official Twitter account posted a GIF of Horrid Henry “flossing” which went viral.
See also
- List of Horrid Henry characters
- Horrid Henry (TV series)
- Horrible Harry a different character.
Notes
- ^ "Horrid Henry". Sourcebooks.
- ^ The Guardian. "Following Horrid Henry's Lead". 24.11.2008.
- ^ Licensing.biz. "Novel scores more Horrid Henry deals". 20.3.2009
- ^ The Guardian. "CITV ends commissioning freeze". 7.3.2008.
- ^ "Horrid Henry Series 4". Kidscreen.com. 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Licensing.biz. "Horrid Henry makes radio debut"
- ^ "Horrid Henry makes jump to hit big screen". BBC News. London. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
References
- Robert McCrum interview in the Guardian
- Q&A with Francesca Simon
- Telegraph interview with Francesca Simon
- The Stage review.Horrid Henry Live and Horrid