Synopses & Reviews
Humphrey is excited to get back to Room 26 and see all his old classmates. But on the first day of school, a bunch of strange kids arrive and no matter how loudly he squeaks up, they don't realize they're in the wrong room! Once Humphrey gets over the shock of being with a whole new group of students, he gets busy learning all about them and their problems. There's Rolling-Rosie, who can pop wheelies with her wheelchair, Tall-Paul and Small- Paul, who don't like to hear about their height, Hurry-Up-Harry, who loses track of time, and more.
He hasn't forgotten about his friends from last year, and of course they miss him a ton. But when they start talking about taking him from Mrs. Brisbane's room, Humphrey gets unsqueakably nervous. How could he say good-bye to Mrs. Brisbane and Og for good?
Nominated for twenty-one state awards and the winner of seven, the Humphrey series is a hit across the country.
Review
"A likable hamster narrates this novel for newly independent readers….Birney succeeds in developing the animal’s character without the narrative becoming too cute or contrived. Humphrey's views underscore the importance of knowing the full story before making judgments, and his presence makes a positive difference in the lives of the people he meets. All in all, a winning book that will appeal to children who like tales about animals, school life, and friendship."
—School Library Journal "The story deftly avoids triteness while still feeling breezy and acknowledging deeply felt troubles, such as Mrs. Brisbane's husband’s depression. The pet-care tips punctuating each chapter would benefit any youngster thinking about getting a hamster, but for everyone else, this read is simply good-good-good."—Kirkus Reviews
Review
His lively, first-person narrative, filled with witty commentary on human and hamster behavior, makes for an engaging, entertaining read. (Booklist)
A winning book. (School Library Journal)
Review
"Humphrey is a witty, fun, and lovable character with great kid appeal." -
School Library JournalReview
“Fans as well as readers new to the series will be entertained by Humphrey’s escapes, which are related in a lively, first-person narrative, laced with humor, heart, and hamster facts.”—Booklist
Review
Awards and Honors:
The World According to Humphrey Winner Children’s Crown AwardWinner Iowa Children’s Choice AwardWinner Rhode Island Children’s Book AwardWinner Pennsylvania’s Keystone to Reading Book AwardWinner Maryland’s Black-Eyed Susan AwardWinner Oklahoma’s Sequoyah Book Award Winner Washington State’s Sasquatch Reading Award Winner Golden Sower Award (NE)Maud Hart Lovelace Award 2nd Place (MN)Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Honor Book Nevada Young Readers Award Nominee
Sunshine State Award Master List (FL)Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award NomineePennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award NomineeSouth Carolina Children’s Book Award NomineeNorth Carolina Children’s Book Award NomineeBeehive Award Nominee (UT)Young Hoosier Award Nominee (IN)Bluestem Book Award Nominee (IL)Kennebec Valley Book Award Nominee (ME)Bank St. Children’s Book Committee Starred Best Book of the Year North Carolina Battle of the Books
Friendship According to Humphrey
2006 Christopher Award Winner, Winner Children’s Crown Award, Bank St. Children’s Book Committee Best Book of the Year, Iowa Children’s Choice Nominee, New York Library Association Best Book of the SeasonSub rights sold by agent: UK, Japan, Holland, Hungary, ArabicTrouble According to Humphrey
A Bank Street Children’s Book Committee Best Book of the Year, Children’s Crown Award Nominee, Land of Enchantment Book Award Nominee (NM)Surprises According to Humphrey
A BookSense Pick, Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List Selection, Iowa Children’s Choice Nominee, Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List, California Collection Selection.Adventure According to Humphrey
Land of Enchantment Book Award Nominee (NM), Children’s Crown Award Honor BookSummer According to Humphrey
SCIBA Book Award Finalist, California Collection selection, Children’s Crown Award nominee
Review
andldquo;An impeccably constructed, good-humored adventure filled with master plans, near disasters, and brave rescues, all gently frightening for readers even younger than the target audience. Lowry creates a cozy church environment of lenient sextons, disheveled organists, and skittish Altar Guild ladies, from a mouseandrsquo;s point-of-view. Fun and lighthearted.andrdquo;andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andldquo;This gently Christian piece with Rohmannandrsquo;s earnest pencil illustrations will please talking-animal fans.andrdquo;andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andquot;Likely to be enjoyed by future readers of Aviandrsquo;s andlsquo;Poppyandrsquo; sequence (HarperCollins).andrdquo;andmdash;School Library Journal
andldquo;Lowry gilds her story with quaint details, extended in Rohmannandrsquo;s charming spot and full-page illustrations, which reinforce the comedy and action and further develop the memorable characters. With touches of surprise and a satisfyingly predictable resolution, this is a strong choice for both classroom sharing and independent reading.andrdquo;andmdash;Booklist
andquot;A fine short novel for independent readers and a wonderful readaloud story for younger children. Lois Lowry again proves herself the go-to gal in childrenandrsquo;s lit.andrdquo;andmdash;Books for Kids blog
andldquo;Author Lois Lowry has been writing a variety of childrenandrsquo;s and teen books for decades and with this title continues to entertain with a thoughtful story about cooperation, kindness, and faith.andrdquo;andmdash;BSCKids.com
Synopsis
Humphrey loves to solve problems for his classmates in Room 26, but he never meant to create one! Golden-Miranda, one of his favorite students, gets blamed when Humphrey is caught outside of his cage while shes in charge. Since no one knows about his lock-that-doesnt-lock, he cant exactly squeak up to defend her. Humphrey really has his paws full when Dont-Complain- Mandy-Payne and her family stir up more big trouble. Humphrey manages to help Pay-Attention-Art and Sit-Still-Seth and even survives a trip to the vet, but can he clear Mirandas name without giving up his freedom forever?
Synopsis
In his sixth adventure, Humphrey heads off for the great outdoors.
When Humphrey hears that school is ending, he panics. School ends? What?s a classroom hamster to do if he?s not in school? But as it turns out, there?s something thrilling in store for Humphrey and Og the frog: going to Camp Happy Hollow with Ms. Mac and lots of the kids from Room 26! Camper Humphrey meets a friendly wild mouse, tracks down Og when he gets lost by the lake, and uses his wily charm to help kids adjust to cabin life and make new friends.
Everyone?s favorite classroom pet keeps entertaining kids across the nation, and his books have won eight state awards and were nominated for fourteen others.
Synopsis
Being a classroom hamster means having to be ready for anything?but suddenly there are a lot of big surprises in Humphrey?s world. Some are exciting, like seeing the playground during a fire drill and getting to roll around in a hamster ball. But some aren?t so good, like a cat creeping around, a different janitor who might be from another planet, and the most shocking thing of all?the possibility of Mrs. Brisbane retiring.
Even with all that?s going on, Humphrey makes time to help a few classmates with their problems. But could Mrs. Brisbane leaving school be one problem that?s just too big for this little guy to solve?
Friendship According to Humphrey received a Christopher Award, and kids voted The World According to Humphrey the winner of children?s choice awards in six states. Plus, it?s been nominated for ten others.
Synopsis
After the holidays, Humphrey is shocked by a big surprise in Room 26-a new class pet! Humphrey tries to be welcoming, but Og the frog doesn't respond to any of his friendly squeaks or visits (remember, he has a lock-that-doesn't-lock). Plus, the students are so interested in Og, they almost stop paying attention to Humphrey altogether. Humphrey doesn't like the mad-bad-sad feelings he's had since Og came, but luckily he still gets to have adventures with different kids on the weekends.
Friendship can be tricky, but Humphrey is an intrepid problem-solver. If any hamster can become buddies with a frog, he can.
Praise for The World According to Humphrey:
Synopsis
You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That's what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26. And boy is it true! There are always adventures in the classroom and each weekend he gets to sleep over with different students. Humphrey learns to read, write, shoot rubber bands (only in self-defense, of course) , turn off TVs, teach English as a second language, and more. With a lock-that-doesn't-lock and an adventurous spirit, what more could a mischievous hamster want?
With a fresh voice and an engaging, hamster's-eye view of school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, Betty G. Birney's Humphrey will elicit laughter and demands for hamsters in every elementary classroom.
Synopsis
When Humphrey hears that school is ending, he can't believe his ears. What's a classroom hamster to do if there's no more school? It turns out that Mrs. Brisbane has planned something thrilling for Humphrey and Og the frog: they're going to Camp Happy Hollow with Ms. Mac and lots of the kids from Room 26! Camp is full of FUN-FUN-FUN new experiences, but it's also a little scary. There are fur-raising wild sounds and smells, and there's something called the Howler to watch out for. Humphrey is always curious about new adventures, but could camp be too wild even for him?
Synopsis
Humphrey is in for his biggest adventure yet! When his friends begin studying the ocean and sailing, he not only discovers the new and exciting world of the library, but also stows away aboard a model boat and takes a very perilous sail on Potter?s Pond. Even with all this excitement, he fi nds time to smooth rough waters between Gail and her free-spirited mom, help competitive Kirk see that winning isn?t everything, and investigate whether his pal Aldo is really planning to become a pirate and sail the high seas.
Kids in seven states voted The World According to Humphrey the winner of their children?s choice awards and consistently rave about Humphrey.
Synopsis
A classroom hamster has to be ready for anything, but suddenly there are LOTS-LOTS-LOTS of big surprises in Humphrey's world. Some are exciting, like a new hamster ball. But some are scary, like a run-in with a cat and a new janitor who might be from another planet. But even with all that's going on, Humphrey finds time to help his classmates with their problems. But will Mrs. Brisbane's unsqueakable surprise be too much for Humphrey to handle?
Synopsis
The students in Room 26 are learning about boats and building their own for a race on Potter's Pond. Humphrey the hamster loves dreaming about being a pirate and watching his friends build ships. But when he mistakenly ends up at sea on the day of the boat race, he finds himself in the middle of more adventure than he bargained for! Humphrey is back in this charming story of a hamster on the high seas of hilarity.
Synopsis
Humphrey usually helps solve problems, but now hes caused a big one: Golden-Miranda gets in trouble when Humphrey is caught outside of his cage on her watch. No one knows about his lock-that-doesnt-lock and he cant exactly squeak up on her behalf. While Humphrey manages to show Pay-Attention-Art that math is important outside of class, help Sit-Still-Seth actually sit still, and survive a trip to the vet, can he clear Mirandas name without giving up his freedom forever?
Friendship According to Humphrey received a Christopher Award and kids voted The World According to Humphrey the winner of state book awards in RI, MD and PA. Plus, its nominated for eleven others so far (WA, MN, FL, LA, OK, SC, PA, NC, UT, IA, ME). Reviewers have called him delightful, irresistible, big hearted and perky.
Synopsis
A new school year and new friends for everyone's favorite classroom pet!
Humphrey is excited to get back to Room 26 and see all his old classmates. But on the first day of school, a bunch of strange kids arrive and no matter how loudly he squeaks up, they don't realize they're in the wrong room! Finally Humphrey realizes that these kids are his new classmates, and he sets off to learn all about them.
He hasn't forgotten about his friends from last year, and of course they miss him a ton. But when they start talking about taking him from Mrs. Brisbane's room, Humphrey gets unsqueakably nervous. How could he say good-bye to Mrs. Brisbane and Og--not to mention his new friends--for good?
Synopsis
EEK-EEK-EEK! Mrs. Brisbane is missing!
Humphrey has always investigated things, like why Speak-Up-Sayeh was so quiet and Tall-Paul and Small-Paul didn't get along, but this is a true mystery--Mrs. Brisbane is missing! She just didn't show up in Room 26 one morning and no one told Humphrey why. The class has a substitute teacher, called Mr. E., but he's no Mrs. Brisbane. Humphrey has just learned about Sherlock Holmes, so he vows to be just as SMART-SMART-SMART about collecting clues and following leads to solve the mystery of Mrs. Brisbane (and a few others along the way).
Nominated for twenty-four state awards and the winner of seven, the Humphrey series is a hit across the country.
Synopsis
A hilarious and timeless tale about a village of church mice that fear another Great X and must fight under their valiant leader, Mouse Mistress Hildegarde, to save themselves!
Synopsis
andquot;Fun and lighthearted.andquot; andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;With touches of surprise and a satisfyingly predictable resolution, this is a strong choice for both classroom sharing and independent reading.andquot; andmdash;Booklist
Under the Mouse Mistress Hildegardeandrsquo;s leadership, a resilient group of church mice save themselves from one danger after anotherandmdash;sometimes by the skin of their tails! Can one ultimate act of bravery during the feast day of St. Francis get Father Murphy to bless these mice and keep them safe forever?
About the Author
Betty G. Birney has written episodes for numerous children's television shows, including The New Adventures of Madeleine, Doug, and Bobby's World, as well as after-school specials and a television movie, Mary Christmas. She has won many awards for her television work, including an Emmy, three Humanitas Prizes, and a Writers Guild of America award.
In addition to the Humphrey books, she is the author of The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs and The Princess and the Peabodys.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Betty lives in Los Angeles with her husband, an actor.