Branching Out: Books for Fans of Horrid Henry

Imaginative and charming, The Boy Who Grew Dragons is a wonderfully whimsical story that kept me smiling the whole way through. The first in a series, this hugely entertaining adventure about a small boy and his pet dragon makes a super read-aloud for Year 3.

Tomas is busy in the garden with Grandad, planning which fruits to grow that might be turned into delicious jams or tarts. When Tomas stumbles across a strange tree with curious-looking fruit, he never expects that what might emerge from the fruit is a real live dragon! This is an adventure that is humorous at every turn, but also full of heart. Tomas is a great positive role model for showing how young people can apply curiosity and creativity to the process of growing and nurturing plants and see ‘magic’ in the course.

Coupled with charming illustrations by Sara Ogilvie, this early chapter book makes a fantastic choice for newly confident readers just taking off with independent reading and it will also go down a storm as an entertaining story choice.

We recommend this classic children’s books series about a boy who becomes flattened by an incident with a pinboard.

Learning to navigate life with his new flat-as-a-pancake body, Stanley finds himself enjoying the novelty of sliding under doors, being posted in the mailbox and flying in the sky as his brother’s kite. Soon, being flat presents challenges too, and the usually positive and optimistic Stanley begins to long to return back to his old self.

These short chapter books go down a treat with children aged 5-7.

The Tom Gates books have been phenomenally popular with readers who enjoy laugh-out-loud illustrated stories exploring themes of school, family life and everything zany. Readers enjoy the notebook-style format and the Tom’s funny take on the ups and downs of family life and school, punctuated by the joys of forming a band and snacking on caramel wafers.

Liz Pichon’s instantly recognisable doodle style makes this a really enjoyable and accessible book that quickly hooks children in, which is extra fantastic because there is an impressively populated series to collect!

Bertie and the Alien Chicken by Jenny Pearson is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud novel that is perfect for engaging KS2 readers.

Bursting with humour and heart, the story follows a child’s wildly imaginative adventure involving a very suspicious chicken, blending everyday family life with outrageous fun. Pearson’s distinctive voice keeps readers hooked while also delivering a warm, emotionally grounded story. Beneath the comedy, the book explores themes of family, belonging, grief and resilience in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.

The accessible language and short chapters support reluctant readers while still offering depth for more confident ones. This is an excellent choice for the classroom: funny, heartfelt and meaningful!

A lively, humorous mystery that hooks children from the first page, The Great Crisp Robbery is a brilliant class read. The story’s playful tone, fast pace, and relatable school setting make it instantly accessible, while the mystery element encourages prediction, inference, and critical thinking.

I love how the book captures the everyday drama of school life – friendships, fairness, and the irresistible temptation of snacks. Children recognise themselves in the characters, and the light‑hearted humour makes it a fun bedtime read.

As a teacher, I appreciate how the text supports key reading skills without feeling heavy-handed. The plot is simple enough for younger readers to follow, yet layered enough to inspire discussion about honesty, consequences and empathy.

This is a highly recommendable early chapter book series, featuring an inclusive and humorous story a with illustrations throughout.

Scooter lives in a jam factory with his parents and has Cerebral Palsy. His head fizzes with brilliant ideas and he’s the one behind all of the fantastic jams produced in the factory. Scooter is also longing for a friend – and his wishes come true when a friendly alien called Fizzbee crash-lands through the jam factory window! The pair pull together to thwart a devious villain who wants to steal Scooter’s jam-making secrets.

This is an original story full of warmth and humour and a lovely choice to read aloud to Year 2 children.

Omar is a boy with a huge imagination that can land him in trouble. As well as being very funny, the stories tackle important issues like bullying and prejudice, with Omar’s diary-style entries covering the everyday ups and downs of life including Muslim traditions, school worries, friendships, family life and a big dose of toilet humour. This first book in this illustrated chapter book series sees Omar move to a new neighbourhood and experience some religious and racial prejudice. It also sees Omar settle in at school, join in with family science experiments and experience the month of Ramadan including the Eid feast at the end.

 Dino Dad by children’s TV presenter Andy Day is a roaringly appealing chapter book for KS1.

Voiced by the spirited Ruby Roo, the story reveals her dad’s secret role as a “POOPA” (Protector of our Prehistoric Allies) when her sister vanishes.

This book is a fantastic illustrated chapter book for younger children, blending exciting family adventures with fascinating dinosaur facts. Ruby’s journey to a hidden island where she discovers transformation powers makes it a hugely entertaining start to a fun new series that’s sure to be a firm favourite.

For more information, head to our guest blog post from Andy Day, all about Dino Dad and the world of children’s books.