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Harry's MadDick King-Smith
Harry's Mad
by Dick King-Smith
Harry inherits a parrot from an American great-uncle, and it turns out to speak fluently, cook breakfast and object to being called a bird.
A story about children and animals, funny and warm in tone. We would put it with children of 7–10, and at a reading age of about 8 for reading alone.
Worth knowing before you buy
- Mild peril
None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.
Our take on this book
Harry inherits a parrot from his American great-uncle — but Madison is no ordinary bird: he can talk, properly talk, hold conversations, cook, and think, and keeping his gift secret becomes impossible once burglars and other troubles arrive. Dick King-Smith, the farmer-turned-author behind The Sheep-Pig, had a gift for the talking-animal story that never feels twee, and this is one of his warmest and funniest: the friendship between a boy and an extraordinary parrot, with a proper adventure when Madison goes missing. It is gently exciting rather than frightening, and full of King-Smith's affectionate humour and feel for family life. For an eight- to eleven-year-old it is a charming, readable novel with a genuinely original animal character at its centre — clever, funny and touching by turns — and a lovely choice for a child who loves animals and wants a story with real heart and a satisfying, adventurous plot.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
The Giraffe and the Pelly and MeRoald Dahl
The Queen's NoseDick King-Smith
You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum!Andy Stanton
A Bear Called PaddingtonMichael Bond
Esio TrotRoald Dahl
The HodgehegDick King-Smith
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.