Meet Harold
A gangly 9-year-old who turns ordinary days into extraordinary adventures—and learns something real every single time
Harold isn't your typical hero. He's all elbows and knees, arms and legs—taller than most kids his age and with a special talent for turning everyday situations into spectacular disasters. But here's the secret about Harold: he's not trying to cause chaos. He's enthusiastic, impulsive, and genuinely well-meaning. He's just still learning how to navigate the world in his gangly, wonderfully honest way.
And honestly? That's exactly why he matters
WHY HAROLD RESONATES
A Character Everyone Recognizes
Because every reader, parent, and educator knows someone like Harold
He's Relatable Every kid has felt clumsy, impulsive, or like they just can't get things right. Every parent has watched their child knock over the lamp while reaching for something on the shelf. Every teacher has seen the enthusiastic kid whose good intentions create unintended chaos. Harold shows them all: you're not alone. Your clumsiness, your mistakes, your well-meaning disasters—they're part of being human.
He Grows Authentically Harold doesn't magically become perfect. He makes progress, has setbacks, tries again, and keeps learning. By Book 5, his instinct is to own his mistakes and fix them. That's not a magical transformation. That's character development kids can actually-model because it's real.
He Takes Responsibility Harold's journey is about moving from "it wasn't my fault" to "this was my mistake and I'm going to fix it." That shift—from blame to ownership—is one of the most important lessons he models. And it happens gradually, naturally, through experience.
He Has Real Friendships Murphy, Mia, and Spike don't abandon Harold when he messes up. They stick with him, help him, and sometimes tell him hard truths. They show what loyalty actually-looks like—not perfection, but presence.
He's Got Heart Behind every disaster is a kid who's trying his best, learning from mistakes, and becoming a better version of himself with each book. That's the Harold story: progress over perfection.
WHY HAROLD RESONATES
A Character Everyone Recognizes
Because every reader, parent, and educator knows someone like Harold
He's Relatable Every kid has felt clumsy, impulsive, or like they just can't get things right. Every parent has watched their child knock over the lamp while reaching for something on the shelf. Every teacher has seen the enthusiastic kid whose good intentions create unintended chaos. Harold shows them all: you're not alone. Your clumsiness, your mistakes, your well-meaning disasters—they're part of being human.
He Grows Authentically Harold doesn't magically become perfect. He makes progress, has setbacks, tries again, and keeps learning. By Book 5, his instinct is to own his mistakes and fix them. That's not a magical transformation. That's character development kids can actually-model because it's real.
He Takes Responsibility Harold's journey is about moving from "it wasn't my fault" to "this was my mistake and I'm going to fix it." That shift—from blame to ownership—is one of the most important lessons he models. And it happens gradually, naturally, through experience.
He Has Real Friendships Murphy, Mia, and Spike don't abandon Harold when he messes up. They stick with him, help him, and sometimes tell him hard truths. They show what loyalty actually-looks like—not perfection, but presence.
He's Got Heart Behind every disaster is a kid who's trying his best, learning from mistakes, and becoming a better version of himself with each book. That's the Harold story: progress over perfection.
HAROLD'S FIVE-ARC JOURNEY
How Harold Grows Across 29 Books
Five thematic arcs, each building on the lessons before
Arc 1: Foundation Years (Books 1-6) | Ages 8-9 Harold learns the basics: responsibility, honesty, patience, perseverance, and mindfulness. These are the foundational life skills every kid needs. By the end of this arc, Harold understands that his choices matter and that he can learn from mistakes.
Arc 2: Growth Years (Books 7-12) | Ages 9-10 Harold expands his world and learns about friendship, empathy, resilience, and courage. He discovers that helping others matters, that failure isn't the end, and that being brave doesn't mean not being scared. This is where his character really solidifies.
Arc 3: Challenge Years (Books 13-18) | Ages 10-11 Harold faces more complex situations: digital citizenship, environmental responsibility, social dynamics, and self-confidence. He's navigating a bigger world now, and the lessons get more nuanced. He learns to think critically, stand up for what's right, and find his voice.
Arc 4: Mastery Years (Books 19-24) | Ages 11-12 Harold deepens his understanding of identity, relationships, ethics, and contribution. He's becoming a leader among his peers. He learns about diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and how his actions affect his community.
Arc 5: Growing Up Years (Books 25-29) | Ages 12-13 Harold tackles the bigger stuff: mental health, identity formation, purpose, authentic relationships, and navigating adolescence. These books address anxiety, peer pressure, finding your tribe, and understanding yourself. They're real, honest, and age-appropriate for the pre-teen reader.
HOW TO USE HAROLD ACROSS THE ECOSYSTEM
Three Zones. One Character. Unlimited Possibilities.
Harold works differently for readers, parents, and educators—because you all engage with him differently
READER ZONE
Harold's books are designed to be genuinely fun reads. They're funny, fast-paced, and relatable. Readers don't feel like they're being taught a lesson—they're caught up in the adventure. But somewhere between the chaos and the humor, they recognize themselves. They see Harold's struggles and realize their own aren't so isolating. The lesson lands naturally because the story earned it.
In the Reader Zone, Harold is a friend who gets you. Someone who's been clumsy too. Someone who's made mistakes and lived through the embarrassment. Someone who keeps trying. That's powerful for a young reader
PARENT ZONE
For parents, Harold becomes a conversation starter. The books give you a shared language with your child. You can reference Harold's mistakes and growth without it feeling like a lecture. "Remember when Harold panicked and made things worse? What do you think he should have done?" suddenly becomes a natural way to explore decision-making.
The parent guides help you see what your child is experiencing through Harold's eyes. They give you frameworks for supporting authentic growth, managing mistakes as learning opportunities, and building resilience. Harold's story becomes your story too—a roadmap for parenting with intention.
EDUCATOR ZONE
Teachers recognize that Harold embodies SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) standards while staying true to engaging storytelling. The lesson plans integrate Harold into your curriculum in ways that feel organic, not forced. You can teach responsibility through Harold's first disaster. You can address friendship through Murphy and Mia. You can discuss mental health through Arc 5.
Harold gives you permission to teach the whole child—the academic skills AND the character development—because the story does both simultaneously
MEET HAROLD'S WORLD
The People and the Places That Shape Harold
A cast of characters who feel like people you know
Harold's Family
Mum: Patient, supportive, firm but loving. She's the anchor when Harold's chaos threatens to overwhelm. She moved the family to a house with a backyard (perfect for Spike!) and she's the one who helps Harold see consequences and solutions without shaming him.
Dad: Long-suffering but deeply understanding. He's the one with the life lessons and the hugs. He shows Harold (and readers) what it looks like to be steady, reliable, and willing to help pick up the pieces.
Aunt Helen: Harold's Favorite aunt. Adventurous, fun, always has butterscotch candies. She represents the adult who gets Harold's energy and channels it toward possibility rather than disaster.
Harold's Friends
Murphy ("Smurf"): Harold's ride-or-die best friend. Loyal, funny, always there when Harold needs him—even when Harold's created a complete mess. Murphy shows what true friendship looks like: showing up, speaking truth, and sticking around.
Mia: Kind, observant, the friend who tells Harold what he needs to hear (not just what he wants to hear). She helps him see situations from other perspectives and make things right. She's the voice of empathy and wisdom.
Spike: Harold's Jack Russell Terrier. Energetic, mischievous, and just as disaster-prone as Harold. Spike is pure joy and chaos. He also teaches Harold about responsibility (feeding him, exercising him, protecting him) in ways that feel natural, not preachy.
Harold's School
Bondi Primary School: Where most of Harold's adventures unfold. It's a place where mistakes happen, friendships deepen, and learning is real.
Mrs. Patterson: Harold's teacher who sees his potential beneath the chaos. She's firm but fair, and she believes in Harold even when he doubts himself. She models what good teaching looks like: seeing the whole child.
Principal Bloom: Wise, patient, and genuinely interested in supporting Harold's growth. She knows Harold is learning and becoming better, and she gives him space to do that.
WHAT MAKES THE HAROLD SERIES DIFFERENT
Not Your Typical Children's Series
Why parents, educators, and readers choose Harold
Authentic Character Development Harold doesn't change overnight. He learns, regresses, learns again. His growth arc across five books is realistic and earned. That's rare in children's literature.
Humor + Heart The stories are genuinely funny. Kids laugh. But the humor never undermines the heart. When Harold has his breakthrough moment, it lands because we've earned it through laughter and chaos.
SEL Standards Built In The books naturally teach social-emotional learning competencies—responsibility, self-awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making, and social awareness—without feeling like lessons. They're woven into the story.
Diverse & Inclusive Harold's world reflects the actual diversity of modern childhood. Different family structures, different abilities, different backgrounds. Kids see themselves represented, and that matters.
Age-Appropriate Complexity The early books are lighter and focus on basic responsibility. The later books tackle real issues: mental health, identity, peer pressure, digital citizenship. The complexity grows as the reader grows.
Designed for Multiple Uses The same book works as:
An enjoyable read for a kid who just wants a good story
A conversation starter for parents and children
A teaching tool for educators
A jumping-off point for deeper discussions about character, resilience, and growth
THE HAROLD PROMISE
What You're Getting When You Choose Harold
A series built with intention, written with heart, designed for growth
When you choose Harold—whether as a reader diving into adventure, a parent seeking conversation starters, or an educator looking for authentic teaching tools—you're choosing a series that:
Respects your intelligence. Harold isn't preachy. The lessons are embedded in the story because good stories teach that way.
Celebrates growth over perfection. Harold fails, learns, tries again. That's the whole point. That's what growing humans need to see.
Builds genuine community. Through the Circle of Friends, you're not alone in this. You're part of a community of readers, parents, and educators who all believe in what Harold represents.
Grows with your child. From "Why did Harold cause such a mess?" in Book 1 to "What would I do in Harold's situation?" in Book 25. The series evolves as your child evolves.
Stays true to itself. Harold is always authentic, always honest, always trying his best. That consistency is something you can count on.
READY TO JOIN HAROLD'S WORLD?
Start Your Harold Journey
Whether you're a reader, parent, or educator—there's a place for you in Harold's story
Harold's adventure is waiting. Join the Circle of Friends and discover why thousands of readers, parents, and educators have made Harold part of their journey.
Your story, Harold's lessons, community support. That's what's waiting for you.
