Horrible Harry and the Purple People

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Room 2B been invaded by purple people! That's what Harry is saying, but no one else believes him. Can he prove that the purple people are real?

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• The Purple People (p. 1)
• The Missing Lunch Card (p. 15)
• Invasion of the Purple People (p. 24)
• Purple Monsters, Purple People, and a Floating Head (p. 33)
• Mary Meets One of the Purple People (p. 39)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-4‘Once 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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

When Harry begins to talk about Purple People, his classmates tease him about his imagination. He escapes the teasing by pouring grape juice on his friend to create a purple person. The story is less concrete than Kline's other classroom adventures, and she never resolves why Harry is seeing (or pretending to see) these Purple People, but her sense of classroom dynamics is as strong as ever. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

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. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 7-10)