Francesca Simon
Francesca Simon was born in St Louis, Missouri, grew up in California, and went on to study Old and Middle English at Oxford and Medieval Studies at Yale. Following this, Francesca decided to work as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). When her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time.
One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular Horrid Henry series, which has now sold over 16 million copies. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.
Books
Do You Speak English, Moon?
Author: Francesca Simon
Illustrator: Ben Cort
Publisher: Orion
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 6+
When a little boy decides to talk to the moon, it seems the questions he has are suddenly endless.
Don't Cook Cinderella
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 5+
Don't Cook Cinderella takes a look at a rather strange school where fairy tale goodies and baddies learn all they need to know about life as a fairy tale character.
Helping Hercules
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 6+
Seven Greek myths with a twist: the introduction of an extra character in the shape of a small, and somewhat stroppy, girl named Susan.
Horrid Henry
Author: Francesca Simon
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 6+
Stories about naughty characters have been told for centuries, and Horrid Henry is a modern-day rogue in the tradition of Dennis the Menace and Just William.
Horrid Henry Gets Rich Quick
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 5-8
Reading age: 7+
Horrid Henry is not a model child. He is jealous of his younger brother, Perfect Peter, who symbolises everything that Henry is not.
Horrid Henry's Revenge
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 6-10
Reading age: 6+
Horrid Henry is determined to get his perfect brother into trouble, meets his match in the monstrous Bossy Bill at dad's office, and pits his wits against Greta, the evil dinner lady.
Rampage in Prince's Garden
Author: Francesca Simon
Illustrator: Emily Bolam
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 3 +
Reading age: 6 +
Colourful and comical illustrations accompany this entertaining tale of four-legged mayhem, perfect for new readers.
The Monstrous Child
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Olivia Lomenech Gill
Publisher: Faber & Faber / Profile Books
Interest age: 8-12
Reading age: 8+
Hel is just like any other teenage girl - but she is also a Norse goddess and a monster. A good story with black humour and mythological detail, this will appeal to tweens and young teens looking for a strong heroine to root for.
The Sleeping Army
Author: Francesca Simon
Publisher: Profile Books
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+
Freya is an ordinary girl living in modern Britain, but with a twist: people still worship the Viking gods
Two Terrible Vikings and Grunt the Berserker
Author: Francesca Simon Illustrator: Steve May
Publisher: Faber
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
You might know Francesca Simon from the fantastically popular Horrid Henry book, and the Two Terrible Vikings make Henry look like an angel! Packed with super-silly toilet humour, madcap action, and lively cartoonish illustrations.