Horrid Henry's Haunted House by Francesca Simon

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Horrid Henry has been around for over 20 years, with over 20 million books sold. I’m surprised I’ve not read him properly before, because he’s a cool little dude. This story was previously published in an anthology, but this new stand-alone version is great because it’s perfectly designed for smaller hands getting to grips, literally and figuratively, with reading alone for the first time. Getting tired of being punished for little things by Miss Battle-Axe, Henry decides to go on strike. Henry thinks that he is going on holiday to somewhere exciting and realistic but ends up somewhere very boring.

The new dinner lady is stealing treats from everyone's lunchboxes and Henry must stop her from ruining his lunch. While waiting for ballet class to start, Henry catches Miss Battle-Axe and Soggy Sid at a really embarrassing sight - Ballroom Dancing. Margaret unveils her multiple YouGroove channels, one of which is poking fun at Henry. He then tries to convince Margaret to take them down.Dad's Brother, Francis, comes round for lunch and Henry discovers that even as adults, they still cannot get along.

Mum and Dad go out to dinner, leaving Henry and Peter with Rabid Rebecca, the toughest babysitter in town. NOTE: This episode takes place during the events of Horrid Henry and the Terrific Teenager, Horrid Henry and the Measly Mascot and Horrid Henry: The Great Escape, except focusing on Henry. At the beginning of the episode, Peter is in the car with Henry on his way to Steve's house. In the book, it's just Henry, Mum and Dad in the car, with Peter having presumably been dropped off at Tidy Ted's. In the episode at dinnertime, during a power cut, Aunt Ruby and Steve tell Henry the story of the ghost of the rich old man who previously owned the house. This scene isn't shown in the book, with the supposed ghost's origin not discussed. However, it is mentioned that the meal was dreadful and Steve was bragging about his expensive new clothes, toys and trainers.

In the book, the attic has pink and blue flowered wallpaper and carpet. In the episode, it is undecorated, with wooden support beams and no carpet. Peter is distraught when Fluffy the cat runs away. Henry is the main suspect and it's up to him to find her. Henry learns that data can be dangerous when Peter becomes Chief Secretary of the Purple Hand Gang. Henry becomes a member of the Best Boys Club just to go to Goody-Goody Gordon's birthday party. But things go wrong when he does NOT get his star. Mr. Soggington makes up a 'Detention Club' on the weekend for people who need detention. It then becomes fun with a good story.