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Mr. Men #19
Mr. Mean
Meet Mr Mean in this charming tale from the world of Mr Men. Mr Mean lived up to his name. He is so mean that all he gave his brother for Christmas was a lump of coal. Can the wizard help to make him just a little bit nicer?
The Mr Men and Little Miss have been delighting children for generations with their charming and funny antics. Bold illustrations and funny stories make Mr Men and Little Miss the perfect story time experience for children aged two up. Have you met them all?
The Mr Men and Little Miss have been delighting children for generations with their charming and funny antics. Bold illustrations and funny stories make Mr Men and Little Miss the perfect story time experience for children aged two up. Have you met them all?
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
2 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Roger Hargreaves
1,331 books368 followersRoger Hargreaves was a British cartoonist, illustrator and writer of children's books. He created the Mr. Men series, Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series, intended for young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with bold, brightly coloured illustrations, have sales of more than 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 8, 2021
The story has the standard Mr. Men moral message of being taught to be good and kind.
But it's the image of Mr. Mean being so tight that he'd quite happily eat out if date food rather than spending any money.
The whole idea of Mr. Mean having a box full of coins but would rather live poorly and count them each night makes this quite a memorable title in the series.
Thankfully a wordy wizard teachs him the errors of his ways, as Mr. Mean had refuses to give him just a simple glass of water...
The end message is a little fudged as Mr. Mean spends the lot, whilst it's sensible to be frugal - it's still important to enjoy oneself.
Atleast he put it to good use by finally repairing the ramshackle house.
But it's the image of Mr. Mean being so tight that he'd quite happily eat out if date food rather than spending any money.
The whole idea of Mr. Mean having a box full of coins but would rather live poorly and count them each night makes this quite a memorable title in the series.
Thankfully a wordy wizard teachs him the errors of his ways, as Mr. Mean had refuses to give him just a simple glass of water...
The end message is a little fudged as Mr. Mean spends the lot, whilst it's sensible to be frugal - it's still important to enjoy oneself.
Atleast he put it to good use by finally repairing the ramshackle house.
February 18, 2018
Mr. Mean is mean and more like Mr. Miser. Fortune throws a wizard in his path and the Wizard is having none of it. Mr. Mean is told that he will lose all his money if he doesn't stop being mean. The Wizard will turn the money into potatoes. Everywhere Mr. Mean turns, he meats a character that is the Wizard in disguise and so Mr. Mean has to learn to be different.
Mr. Mean gets quite a lesson and his life does improve. As change is usually painful for people, Mr. Mean does go through pain in changing. A most interesting story.
These little books are so wonderful. I'm so glad my nephew demands I read these to him 'NOW'. There are a huge amount of these to read, so much joy to be had in the future.
Mr. Mean gets quite a lesson and his life does improve. As change is usually painful for people, Mr. Mean does go through pain in changing. A most interesting story.
These little books are so wonderful. I'm so glad my nephew demands I read these to him 'NOW'. There are a huge amount of these to read, so much joy to be had in the future.
August 6, 2021
Mr. Mean is mean in the miserly sense of the word; he’s not Mr. Average. He won’t even spend money on himself or his own home; he just lives in squalor, counting his money.
In true Mr. Men style, this all changes when a wizard comes along and sticks his oar in. These wandering wizards seem to be a feature of the Mr. Man world and they seem to be quite the nuisance.
This wizard curses Mr. Mean to have a different piece of his anatomy turn into a different piece of fruit or veg whenever he’s mean.
A quite interesting side note is that Mr. Mean is one of the only two Mr. Men to have ears.
My next book: King In Black: Planet of the Symbiotes
In true Mr. Men style, this all changes when a wizard comes along and sticks his oar in. These wandering wizards seem to be a feature of the Mr. Man world and they seem to be quite the nuisance.
This wizard curses Mr. Mean to have a different piece of his anatomy turn into a different piece of fruit or veg whenever he’s mean.
A quite interesting side note is that Mr. Mean is one of the only two Mr. Men to have ears.
My next book: King In Black: Planet of the Symbiotes
December 4, 2009
Mr Mean seems like a straightforward story at first - a selfish, thoughtless man is brought to his senses by a kindly wizard, and that's how my kids saw it.
However the hidden subtext tells a different tale: a social misfit, living outside society's norms is bullied into conforming, and buying into the materialistic side of life.
Mr Mean lives a frugal, solitary life, until a verbose wizard knocks on his door asking for a glass of water. The wizard initially sees Mr Mean as a poor and needy case, before stumbling across his hoard of gold.
He then sets increasingly bizarre tests of Mr Mean's character, with the threat of physical deformity for non-compliance.
I'm pleased to see by the last line of the book that Mr Mean's character hasn't totally been broken by the wizard's torture.
However the hidden subtext tells a different tale: a social misfit, living outside society's norms is bullied into conforming, and buying into the materialistic side of life.
Mr Mean lives a frugal, solitary life, until a verbose wizard knocks on his door asking for a glass of water. The wizard initially sees Mr Mean as a poor and needy case, before stumbling across his hoard of gold.
He then sets increasingly bizarre tests of Mr Mean's character, with the threat of physical deformity for non-compliance.
I'm pleased to see by the last line of the book that Mr Mean's character hasn't totally been broken by the wizard's torture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2018
Mr Men's Scrooge
24 February 2018 – Geelong
It's been quite a while since I've actually read a Mr Men book, but a part of the reason is because I forgot to take any with me when I travelled the Banana Pancake Trail (and I did not eat one Banana Pancake). Anyway, just before I went out on another adventure (this one local) I decided that it might be an idea to take a couple with me to try and catch up on some of them (not that I have any particular reading schedule).
So, the first one I grabbed happened to be a story about somebody who is incredibly stingy. I'm not sure if mean and stingy are interchangeable, but some people do consider stingy people to be mean. Take for instance the story of John Paul Getty, who refused to pay a ransom for his kidnapped grandson. Pretty much everybody looks at him and goes 'what a stingy bastard' but his response is that if he were to pay out in this instance it just gives a green light to people to continue to do such things – similar to the US government's refusal to negotiate with terrorists.
Yet I also consider being overtly generous to be somewhat foolish as well. The thing is that people always are looking for a free ride, and the sad thing is that if you show any form of generosity people automatically take it as a carte blanche invitation to go for broke. In fact I know people who will refuse to do anything unless you pay for it – I guess those type of people aren't actually friends, and if you have to pay them for their company then, well, it's probably no different than paying for sex (though I really don't want to lump prostitutes together with those type of people, it's unfair on the prostitute).
However Hargraves does have a point here. The thing is that Mr Mean is so stingy that he lives in a dilapidated house and refuses to lift even one little finger to help anybody. While there is that argument that to show generosity is to invite abuse, if one goes to the opposite extreme then one simply ends up living a life alone. Seriously, what joy is there in sitting in a locked room counting one's money, and that locked room happens to be in a house that is falling down around you. Honestly, I have much better things to do than that. Then again, these days we have computers that do that, unless we don't trust banks and hide it in our basement (only to have inflation destroy the value of our savings).
Actually, come to think of it, I do know a guy that reluctantly puts his money in the bank, but when he wants to transfer it, he will withdrawal the entire lot, walk down the road with it, and then deposit it in another institution. Okay, I did that at one stage, so that I could have the adrenalin rush of being about to walk down the street carrying $10,000.00 in cash, but in the end it is incredibly stupid. I know of people who have lost their entire life savings by doing that. Then again, there is no convincing some people. Oh, and that particular person does live in a house that is only weeks away from being condemned.
24 February 2018 – Geelong
It's been quite a while since I've actually read a Mr Men book, but a part of the reason is because I forgot to take any with me when I travelled the Banana Pancake Trail (and I did not eat one Banana Pancake). Anyway, just before I went out on another adventure (this one local) I decided that it might be an idea to take a couple with me to try and catch up on some of them (not that I have any particular reading schedule).
So, the first one I grabbed happened to be a story about somebody who is incredibly stingy. I'm not sure if mean and stingy are interchangeable, but some people do consider stingy people to be mean. Take for instance the story of John Paul Getty, who refused to pay a ransom for his kidnapped grandson. Pretty much everybody looks at him and goes 'what a stingy bastard' but his response is that if he were to pay out in this instance it just gives a green light to people to continue to do such things – similar to the US government's refusal to negotiate with terrorists.
Yet I also consider being overtly generous to be somewhat foolish as well. The thing is that people always are looking for a free ride, and the sad thing is that if you show any form of generosity people automatically take it as a carte blanche invitation to go for broke. In fact I know people who will refuse to do anything unless you pay for it – I guess those type of people aren't actually friends, and if you have to pay them for their company then, well, it's probably no different than paying for sex (though I really don't want to lump prostitutes together with those type of people, it's unfair on the prostitute).
However Hargraves does have a point here. The thing is that Mr Mean is so stingy that he lives in a dilapidated house and refuses to lift even one little finger to help anybody. While there is that argument that to show generosity is to invite abuse, if one goes to the opposite extreme then one simply ends up living a life alone. Seriously, what joy is there in sitting in a locked room counting one's money, and that locked room happens to be in a house that is falling down around you. Honestly, I have much better things to do than that. Then again, these days we have computers that do that, unless we don't trust banks and hide it in our basement (only to have inflation destroy the value of our savings).
Actually, come to think of it, I do know a guy that reluctantly puts his money in the bank, but when he wants to transfer it, he will withdrawal the entire lot, walk down the road with it, and then deposit it in another institution. Okay, I did that at one stage, so that I could have the adrenalin rush of being about to walk down the street carrying $10,000.00 in cash, but in the end it is incredibly stupid. I know of people who have lost their entire life savings by doing that. Then again, there is no convincing some people. Oh, and that particular person does live in a house that is only weeks away from being condemned.
August 29, 2016
I can't stand reading books that use the word "stupid." It's hard to skip the word when your kid can read Along with you.
August 21, 2017
I feel Mr Mean does not deserve that title. Perhaps Mr Frugal would have been more accurate, as he is a real penny pincher. He also refuses to get roped into doing other people's work for them, which appears to me to be the ability to set good boundaries and manage ones time well. However, a wordy wizard who is able to transform himself at will but unable to conjure a glass of water decides to teach Mr Mean a lesson. It appears the lesson is to assist everyone you do not know by performing their chores for them, or else you will be turned into a vegetable. I'm glad Mr Mean spent some money fixing up his house, however I am concerned that he spent all of his money doing so, as he should have set some aside for a rainy day fund. As a side note, I wouldn't have given an unknown and annoyingly verbose wizard a glass of water either
March 27, 2015
Think I’m right in stating that as a boy I had all the pre-1990 Mr Men books with the possible exception of “Mr Snow”. Looking at all the covers apart from the latter jogged my memory.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
August 18, 2013
I absolutely loved these Mr Men and Little Miss books. I remember getting them from my granny every week. There was so much from these simple characters, I remember filling my little bookshelf with all these books making sure I had got them all in right order. I wish I still had these books but somehow most of them got lost with many house moves or my mum gave the rest away. If I ever have kids, I will make sure they get the chance to experience these wonderful, colourful books.
September 28, 2015
Ah, Mr Men and Little Miss, how wonderful you are!
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
March 24, 2015
Mr Mean is mean - had to explain the meaning of that word but now I expect to hear it often! As with all of these delightful Mr Men books, Mr Mean is introduced as the meanest person around until he gets his lesson in better behavior!
February 1, 2015
He had to stop being mean so he didn't turn into a vegetable.
August 11, 2025
A better Mr Men than most. Engaging story. Author does not know tomato is a fruit not a vegetable.
February 14, 2018
Brilliant moral tale about being nice to people.
January 12, 2021
Interesting that in the French version Monsieur Avare is plump and not at all mean looking. And the magician has a magic baguette.
November 1, 2011
This book is very interesting for everybody, children and adults. In fact, it was written for kids, and I read it, when I was little. But from time to time, I read it again, and I always find something interesting in Hargreaves' books. Mr. Mean contains a lot of funny moments, but it also teaches children a lesson, not to be mean, but spend their money, and help out others around them, that is less fortunate people. The author's presentation of the characters is done in a rather funny way. I especially like his illustrations of the story, which is so simple and so attractive. I would recommend all the Mr. Men and Little Miss books to all youngsters and adults.
March 20, 2009
The MR. Men books are an English book my mom had when she was younger. She let me read them and each as a different story. This one is about Mr. Mean. He is mean to everyone and everything. He is a sour puse who never has fun.
October 30, 2007
i didn't like the ending much. but the fact that he sends lumps of coal for xmas presents is great (i'm considering doing that myself).
June 16, 2008
Mr. Mean is a variation on A Christmas Carol. He's a miser who is shown the error of his ways and begins to be lavish with his millions.
July 5, 2013
After what the wizard did to him to teach him a lesson I'm sure he stopped being so meanie.
March 7, 2016
One of the very best Mr Men books.
December 23, 2016
I did not like this book because I do not like being mean. I also did not like this book because Mr. Mean was very mean.
September 11, 2017
Almost an exact duplicate of Mr. Uppity.
January 29, 2020
6 year old says... I really don't like this book because it's not very funny. I like the funny ones best. Dad, please can you write a long review today?!
40 year old says... So, a wizard who cannot take no for an answer forces his way into Mr means house, spills money over the floor, doesn't apologise, steals a cup of water (despite clearly being told he couldn't have one), then decides to 'teach him a lesson'. So, the wizard aggressively sets up situations asking Mr Mean to help - for example the wizard turns into a washer woman wanting him to carry laundry, when Mr Mean says no (he could be in a rush, or have a bad back for all we know), he turns mr means nose into a carrot. Quite honestly, the wizard needs an etiquette lesson, or a trip to Azkaban. For me, I think I'd rather spend time with Voldemort, at least you know where you stand with him, he's not a condensing old codger like the wizard in this story. Poor Mr Mean.
40 year old says... So, a wizard who cannot take no for an answer forces his way into Mr means house, spills money over the floor, doesn't apologise, steals a cup of water (despite clearly being told he couldn't have one), then decides to 'teach him a lesson'. So, the wizard aggressively sets up situations asking Mr Mean to help - for example the wizard turns into a washer woman wanting him to carry laundry, when Mr Mean says no (he could be in a rush, or have a bad back for all we know), he turns mr means nose into a carrot. Quite honestly, the wizard needs an etiquette lesson, or a trip to Azkaban. For me, I think I'd rather spend time with Voldemort, at least you know where you stand with him, he's not a condensing old codger like the wizard in this story. Poor Mr Mean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2018
Mr Men Marathon goes crazy out of order here as we leap to book nineteen, not that the order really matters with Mr Men, some characters do appear in other books, but it's not like there is a sense of spoilers for other books.
This one of course is about the mean title character, with more Mr Men hijinks.
This one of course is about the mean title character, with more Mr Men hijinks.
April 15, 2022
This is an adorable series that I remember reading as a kid. I love that I can find them at our local library and read a few every once in a while to my kids. They have great life lessons on different character traits and are just silly and fun. Mr. Mean is a nasty person. But, there is a wordy wizard in this book who makes the world of Mr. Mean a little nicer.
January 1, 2025
Not so much “Mr. Mean” as much as “Mr. Frugal” and “Mr. Doesn’t Go Out Of His Way To Help Others”.
EDIT: This book has 2 versions - Mr. Mean and Mr. Stingy. I’m giving Mr. Mean 3 stars because of above, but Mr. Stingy 3.5. Would have been 4 but they amalgamated some text pages together which made us miss out on some of the cute original illustrations.
EDIT: This book has 2 versions - Mr. Mean and Mr. Stingy. I’m giving Mr. Mean 3 stars because of above, but Mr. Stingy 3.5. Would have been 4 but they amalgamated some text pages together which made us miss out on some of the cute original illustrations.
April 18, 2024
As a kid I made a remix of the Mr Men theme that starred Mr Mean as the singer, and the only lyric was earwax. It wasn’t even sung, the music just played and he yelled ‘EARWAX!’ at certain points. I’ll give you a moment to block me, it’s okay, I understand.
January 4, 2020
While this book has a very important lesson, I think it made the wizard seem sly and nasty himself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews