Horrible Harry and the Purple People by Suzy Kline, Frank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Harry has always had a vivid imagination, but now he's saying there are Purple People in the classroom that only he can see. No one believes Harry -- not even Doug -- but then strange and unexplainable things start happening in Room 2B. Is Harry playing a horrible trick, or are the Purple People real?

Children's Literature

The eleventh in the "Horrible Harry" series, this one deals with Harry's inventive imagination and the flat-footed literal Mary's unwillingness to play his game. When Harry says it's the Purple People who find lost things, or create some class mischief, Mary demands to see them. The humorous ending features some misplaced grape juice but the strength of these stories are the warm way they portray a typical group of second graders in all the small rivalries that can develop and the kindly teacher who is holding things together in the background. Here she's reading "Alice in Wonderland" and her observation that people need a little magic in their lives is taken to heart.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4Once again, Harry shows that he has a great imagination. Here, he says that there are invisible purple people in Miss Mackle's classroom, but Mary knows there's no such thing. When Miss Mackle, who has been reading Alice in Wonderland, throws a tea party for the class, Harry decides to invite one of the purple people and pulls a prank to prove that they do indeed exist. Harry and his classmates form a wonderful group of characters. There is a certain respectful camaraderie within this circle of friends that is refreshing, and the author demonstrates a clear understanding of the ways of children. The youngsters are funny and intelligent, and readers will no doubt be tempted by Harry's mischievous ideas. Miss Mackle is depicted as an understanding teacher who shares in their camaraderie. Children will love this inventive addition to the "Horrible Harry" books and will look forward to more.Carrie A. Guarria, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY

Kirkus Reviews

Kline (Marvin and the Mean Words, p. 641, etc.) lets loose with the further adventures of Harry, who, in the last week of second grade, has become even more of a cut-up than usual. Miss Mackle is apparently spending the day (Kline is somewhat vague on the timing) reading Alice in Wonderland to the class. Harry insists there are invisible Purple People in the room; after he appears to tame a bee and find a lost lunch card with the "help" of the Purple People, his skeptical classmates start to wonder about his claims. Harry's announcement that a Purple Person will join them at their class tea party produces the book's only moments of suspense; the climax, in which Harry produces one of the Purple People by throwing grape juice on a classmate, is disappointing; then again, Kline isn't attempting to make grand statements or to pound in any major morals. A silly story that unfolds harmlessly.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0140382232
  
• ISBN-13: 9780140382235
• Format: Paperback, 64pp
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Pub. Date: July 1999
• Edition Description: Reprint
• Sales Rank: 19,667
• Age Range: 7 to 10
• Series: Horrible Harry Series

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents