Horrible Harry And The Mud Gremlins Book

No one knows why Harry is wearing a necklace. Sidney thinks they're for girls. But when Harry opens the necklace cover to reveal a mini-microscope, the whole class is intrigued. Everyone wants to try it, so Harry promises to show them all some wicked-looking fungi at recess. But he doesn't mentiom that to see them they'll need to go outside the fence-and that means breaking a school rule. Will everyone follow him? What if Miss Mackle finds out? Has Harry gone too far this time?

Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz.

About the Author:
Suzy Kline is the author of fourteen previous Horrible Harry books and four about Song Lee.

Frank Remkiewicz has illustrated numerous books for children, including the popular Froggy books.

Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature

Harry is a leader and the kids in his class get themselves into trouble when they follow his led on Monday. Harry had arrived at school wearing what appeared to be a necklace, but was actually a ten-power magnifying glass on a chain. He told his friends that he had discovered a mushroom kingdom and that at recess they could all see some "wicked looking fungi." The problem facing the kids was that Harry's discovery was off the school grounds and they all know that they should not sneak under the fence to go into the woods; but one by one they do. The stinkhorn mushrooms really do smell bad, but the kids find them fascinating. As recess comes to a close, they rush back into the classroom, but track mud all over the new rug in the classroom. When the teacher asks how the footprints got there, Harry tells a fib about the mud gremlins. His friends are not happy; and Mary who had not completed her morning writing assignment rushes over to her desk (she had writer's block, but has obviously overcome it). In the end, Mary's written confession that she is one of the mud gremlins brings the others to also admit to their participation. There are consequences—the kids have to stay after school to clean up the rug and the classroom and their parents are notified about the non-sanctioned field trip. The story does end on a happier note with the kids actually going on an outing to look at more fungi. As with other books in the "Horrible Harry" series, Kline is right on target with kid behavior. She lightens the lesson with an engaging story and amusing black and white sketches. 2003, Viking, Ages 7 to 10.