Francesca Simon: Horrible Henry. Book 1

A mischievous eight-year-old boy named Henry is hardly a role model. He doesn't like going to school, eating his vegetables at lunch, or doing whatever adults tell him. Henry’s behavior horrifies his parents and teachers, but stories of his pranks have been making readers around the world laugh for almost 30 years. They have been translated into 30 languages and have sold more than 22 million copies.

In England, the Horrid Henry books are among the top five most borrowed library books. Children enjoy reading them on their own and ask for more. What is the secret to such success?

Henry is an incredibly charming anti-hero. He inspires sympathy despite all his antics because he embodies the little restless "imp" that lives inside every one of us.

The situations Henry finds himself in at school and at home are well-known to all children. "That's happened to me, too!" they will exclaim after finishing another story. This joy of recognition is very important, as it helps a child genuinely fall in love with reading.

Author: Francesca Simon

Illustrations: Tony Ross

Translation: Nadezhda Koncha, Maria Melnichenko

Pages: 120 (offset). Hardcover

Dimensions: 21x14 cm