Henry Potty and the Pet Rock: An Unauthorized Harry Potter Parody (Paperback)

by Valerie Estelle Frankel (Author)
Key Phrases: invisibility cloak, pet rock, Really Wimpy, Lord Revolting, Bumbling Bore (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Children of all ages (including adults) will adore this hilarious parody! -- The Best Reviews. Kathy Boswell, President of Reviewers International Organization. July 24, 2006.

Henry Potty is a witty, absurd send-up with a charm all its own. -- Seized by the Tale. July 31, 2006.

I haven't laughed out loud so much since reading Bored of the Rings -- Reader's Robot, July 25, 2006

If you're in the mood for a silly farce it'll be perfect, and even if you aren't it'll be fun. -- Burning Void Reviews, July 17, 2006

Product Description
All is not well at Chickenfeet Academy. Lord Revolting, murderous goldfish-flusher and creator of the mega-wedgie, seeks ingredients to take over the world, including Really Wimpy's pet rock! Henry Potty and his best buddies set out to rescue it, unaware the least likely character in the book has enticed it away for her own sneaky agenda. Henry struggles through Hobology and Extremely Dry History, preps for America's Funniest Fairygodchildren, and tries to avoid laundering Professor Snort's dreaded hankies, or worse, watching A History of Cabbages in Polish. All the while, he has his fan club ready, down to the exclusive "Henry Potty" toothpick holders, although none of his fans exist yet. Unapproved, unendorsed, unofficial, and unstoppable: an award-winning parody for all the Harry Potter fans.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: WingSpan Press (December 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159594088X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595940889
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #694,175 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Touch of Humor, September 12, 2006

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (8/06)

Unless you just crawled out from a cave after hibernating for 20 years you have to have heard about Harry Potter and all his glory. Now pretend that Weird Al Yankovich and J.K. Rowling hooked up to create a book. What would you have? You'd have "Henry Potty and the Pet Rock."

An absolutely hilarious take on the Harry Potter stories, Frankel takes a stab at re-creating a similar story line but with a few wackier characters and events. A parody like no other I've ever seen in literature, you will chuckle and laugh until your belly hurts!

Characters that are just plain silly and fun create a story line that makes one take a second look at the Potter series and say "Hmmm, I wonder if J.K. Rowling ever thought of it that way". As the main character, Henry Potty takes on a series of strange events to create a silly story told much to the likes of anyone that's a kid at heart. Not limited to just a youngster's read, adults will enjoy this take on the magical world our own kids seem obsessed with as Henry joins the ranks of fellow pranksters and goofballs at Chickenfeet Academy.

An absolutely witty satire, Frankel somehow brings the characters above and beyond what you would expect as you laugh your way through the book. Silly, senseless, and totally nuts, you cannot help but enjoy the ride as you sit back and read "Henry Potty and the Pet Rock." If you have a Harry Potter fan at home, they'll be amused at the parodies. If you have a Harry Potter nay-sayer at home, they'll love the comical jabs. And if you simply want a good laugh, you'll enjoy every page! Truly for kids of all ages, 2 to 222!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for kids, adults, and families!, January 18, 2007

By	Donna Kanter (Saratoga, CA) - See all my reviews

I so very much enjoyed reading Valerie Frankel's novel, Henry Potty and the Pet Rock." With deft humor she is able to capture everything from fairy tales gone astray to the plight of the working poor and the unions that should be advocating for them, all in a fantasy world based on the runaway best selling Harry Potter series. What is exceptional about this parody is that it is perfectly suitable for children who are enchanted with Harry Potter novels and/or movies, yet will keep an adult's attention until the last page. Ideal for reading aloud to children, this novel has the ability to bring family members of all ages together.

It is my hope that we will see many more novels by this most promising young author in the future.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining for all ages, May 10, 2007

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Henry Potty and the Pet Rock is an adorable unauthorized Harry Potter parody written by Valerie Estelle Frankel. Henry Potty is the baby left in an asparagus crate on the doorstep of the Dorky family, relegated to the lowly status of household slave. Though his daily duties involve catering to the whims of Dumpy Dorky and his Dorky parents, Henry is fully aware that he is destined to be the hero of the novel, and bides his time with a room filled with the various action figures, games, and merchandise that will inevitably be in demand when his heroics are recognized.

When Henry receives an acceptance letter to Chickenfeet Academy in California from Professor Bumbling Bore, the Dorkys are eager to send him on his way. With the lackluster aid of his fairy godmother, Henry boards the Chickenfeet trainer for his new life as a "gizzard." Once at school, Henry and his classmates are greeted by the large and hairy Higgle, who ushers them on to a long and boring introduction from Professor Bore, then to dorm selection by the "sorting rat" under the direction of Miss McGonk. After being bitten by the sorting rat, Henry meets his new Heroes Dorm roommates, Horrendous Gangrene, a "which," and Really Wimpy, another gizzard. While Horrendous and Really work to defeat the pungent Lord Revolting while keeping up with their school assignments, Henry will valiantly take the credit for their accomplishments.

Though intended as a children's book, Henry Potty and the Pet Rock has no discernable age limit, as the cover reveals when it states "For ages 2-222." The story flows with a corniness that will make young children giggle, dotted with random jokes to keep an adult reader's attention.

Armchair Interviews says: Even Frankel's bio at the end of the book is filled with humor.