Mr. Mean

What do our readers think of Mr. Mean? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children enjoy the silly magic and the clear lesson about being kinder and less selfish. Some children find the wizard or the ending less funny than the other parts of the story.

What does the Pageticker team say about Mr. Mean?

Mr. Mean is a classic Mr Men tale with bold illustrations, daft magical transformations and a very clear message about kindness and generosity. Roger Hargreaves turns penny-pinching into cartoon comedy, although the wizard’s rather forceful methods may give adults something to discuss. Best suited to younger children who enjoy simple stories about larger-than-life characters learning an important lesson.

Genres

What is Mr. Mean about?

Mr Mean is so stingy that he gives his brother a lump of coal for Christmas. When a wizard casts spells to teach him a lesson, Mr Mean's miserly ways are put to the test. Will he learn the joy of generosity?

About the author

Roger Hargreaves was a British author and illustrator best known for creating the much-loved Mr. Men and Little Miss books. His colourful characters, like Mr. Tickle and Little Miss Sunshine, have entertained children all over the world. Roger enjoyed making stories that were fun, easy to read, and full of imagination.

Discussion ideas around Mr. Mean

Mean or careful?: Mr. Mean is very careful with his money, but when does being careful become unfair or unkind?

The wizard’s lesson: How does the wizard try to change Mr. Mean, and can you think of a kinder way to teach the same lesson?

A generous gift: What makes a present thoughtful, and what could Mr. Mean give his brother instead of a lump of coal?

Using what we have: How can we share our time, belongings or skills with other people, even when we do not have much money?