Families who loved Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire by Francesca Simon often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is feeling misunderstood, frustrated by school rules, or caught in a cycle of sibling bickering. It serves as a safe, humorous outlet for children who harbor a bit of inner rebellion but need to see those impulses played out in a fictional, consequence-free environment. While Henry is famously 'horrid,' these stories actually help normalize the big, messy emotions that come with childhood, like jealousy and the desire for autonomy. In this collection, Henry navigates a museum sleepover that he finds dreadfully boring until he decides to spice things up with some imaginary zombie vampires. The stories follow Henry as he clashes with his 'perfect' brother, Peter, and attempts to outsmart the adults in his life. It is an ideal choice for reluctant readers aged 7 to 10 who enjoy slapstick humor and slightly 'gross-out' themes, providing a bridge to more complex chapter books through its episodic and high-energy format.
