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18th out of 29 books
—
18 voters
The World According to Humphrey (Humphrey's Adventures)
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! In addition to his classroom escapades, each weekend this amazing hamster gets to sleep over with a different student, like Lower-Your-Voice-A.J. and Speak-Up-Sayeh. Soon Humphrey learns to read, write, and even shoot rubber...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
May 5th 2005
by Puffin
(first published February 2nd 2004)
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144 pages
by Betty G. Birney
The World According to Humphrey is the first in the Humphrey series. Humphrey is the classroom hamster in Room 26, Mrs. Brisbane's room, at Longfellow School. He is a very smart hamster! He was brought to school by Mrs. Mac, a substitute for Mrs. Brisbane one day. ms. Mac gave him a tiny notebook and pencil before she left. Throughout the book, Humphrey helps different students in Mrs. Brisbane's class (like Speak-Up-Sayeh) when they take him home for the weekend.
I lov...more
by Betty G. Birney
The World According to Humphrey is the first in the Humphrey series. Humphrey is the classroom hamster in Room 26, Mrs. Brisbane's room, at Longfellow School. He is a very smart hamster! He was brought to school by Mrs. Mac, a substitute for Mrs. Brisbane one day. ms. Mac gave him a tiny notebook and pencil before she left. Throughout the book, Humphrey helps different students in Mrs. Brisbane's class (like Speak-Up-Sayeh) when they take him home for the weekend.
I lov...more
Mar 25, 2013
Shan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Every young child
Shelves:
children
My 5 year old nephew, in kindergarten, received this book through his elementary school (grades K-2) that is launching a new school program called One School, One book, where every family receives a copy of the same book and are recommended to read a chapter a day for the entire month. This book is a chapter book with no pictures and it was the first time reading a book like this to my nephew. I LOVED this book! Though, I'm not so sure if my nephew shares the same enthusiasm for this book as I d...more
This is a great book. I really enjoyed reading it for a number of reasons. This book is written from the perspective of a hamster known as Humphrey who is a student in a class known as Room 26. Reading a book from a hamster’s perspective is unusual and I feel this would intrigue a pupil an interest and inspire the pupil to continue reading. At the same it is challenging for a reader to continually read from this perspective and would encourage a child to use their imagination in order to underst...more
"The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney tells the tale of a hamster named Humphrey and his adventures while residing in classroom 26. Humphrey is no ordinary hamster, though, because he likes to read, write, teach, and learn many other valuable life lessons during his stay in room 26.
I really enjoyed Humphrey's tale and all the adventures he got himself into. It was cute reading the book through his perspective and funny to see how he viewed the world through his hamster eyes. Yes,...more
I really enjoyed Humphrey's tale and all the adventures he got himself into. It was cute reading the book through his perspective and funny to see how he viewed the world through his hamster eyes. Yes,...more
The younger set will really like this book. I found Humphrey's "vocabulary" a little corny shall I say. It was a sweet story. What I liked best was the differences in the homes Humphrey found himself in each weekend. The author didn't spare the truth about family life as it really is. Jo
Ms. Mac, the temporary teacher for Room 26, bought a hamster named Humphrey as a
class pet. Humphrey is a very unusual hamster: He responds to humans with squeaks; he reads and writes along with the class; and he...more
Ms. Mac, the temporary teacher for Room 26, bought a hamster named Humphrey as a
class pet. Humphrey is a very unusual hamster: He responds to humans with squeaks; he reads and writes along with the class; and he...more
The name of this book is "The World According to Humphrey." Humphrey is a hamster. There's no illustrator. The author is Betty G. Birney. The time is now. The place that they mostly talk about in the book is the classroom where Humphrey lives. Humphrey is the main character. He is like Ditto except that he has a different pattern on his fur. The teacher is Mrs. Brisbane, who wants to get rid of him. Humphrey is the main character.
For Thanksgiving, he goes to Mrs. Brisbane's house for the weekend...more
For Thanksgiving, he goes to Mrs. Brisbane's house for the weekend...more
CUTE-CUTE-CUTE...that's what the savvy, furry little hamster named Humphrey is! Ms. Mac, substitute teacher for Mrs. Brisbane's class brought Humphrey into the room because as she says, 'You can learn a lot about life by observing another species'...and so it goes. Humphrey is a master at listening and then putting into action a series of steps that will assist those in need. Take Mr. Morales, principal at Longfellow School, who is respected at school, yet his own family doesn't really listen to...more
Sep 20, 2010
Brenda
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Children ages 7 to 11 who love animal stories
Shelves:
fantasy
First in a series of six books by author Betty Birney, The World According to Humphrey is a very cute story told from the perspective of a hamster. I listened to the audiobook version of this with my son. Humphrey begins his story with Mrs. Mack and a classroom of children who love him. When Mrs. Mack picks him up at the pet store she tells him that he “can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species and you’ll teach those children a thing or two.” So when a substitute teacher M...more
I was dreading reading this Bluestem nominee, but I was pleasantly surprised at the charm of the book. Yes, this story told from the point of view of a classroom hamster is sometimes cloyingly sweet, but the voice of Humphrey reminded me of my favorite fictionsl third grade girl (Clementine) and the story moves fast. I think children in the target for the book (3rd-5th) will really like the little hamster, and the lack of a defined grade will spread the book's appeal (we never find out what grad...more
Jan 12, 2012
Jason Penckofer
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Shelves:
fiction,
animals,
hamsters,
firstperson,
humor,
anthropomorphism,
school,
bookleggers,
wckca2012
Humphrey is a slightly anthropomorphized hamster; he thinks and writes in English, and is very much a problem solver. The book is Humphrey's memoir of his first semester as a class pet. The main thrust of the plot is that everyone Humphrey comes into contact with has one main problem and in the time Humphrey spends with that person, he uses his perception and hamster-y charms to solve that one problem. There is the girl who won't speak up in class, the family that watches too much TV, the janito...more
In The World According to Humphrey a lot of exciting things happened. It all starts with woman named Miss Mack. She was a teacher, and she was walking towards a pet store. She decided to get a hamster, and he was named Humphrey. He had a great time with Miss Mack, and was the class room pet. One day Humphrey was told that Miss Mack had to leave. He was very disappointed with this news. The new teacher did not like Humphrey. He was taken home every weekend by one of the students. As the days wen...more
I wasn't expecting the book to be as good as it actually is. Told from a hamster's point of view, Humphrey is a classroom pet. He is quite interesting and intelligent character that kids can connect with. He journeys from house to house over the weekends and learns about different students and their families. It can really open kids up to multiculturalism and various family backgrounds. Humphrey gets into all sorts of situations, from battling dogs with rubber bands to helping people learn Engli...more
Birney, Betty G. The World According to Humphrey.
Rating: ***
Summary: Humphrey, the hamster, teaches individuals all of sizes valuable lessons. The story is just makes you appreciate the little things in life.
Main characters:
Humphrey: A hamster that is helpful in many different ways. He is creative and full of energy.
Miss Mac: The substitute teacher that buys Humphrey at a pet store to teach her class (room 26) about responsibilty of taking care of things.
Mrs. Brisbane: She is the teacher of room...more
Rating: ***
Summary: Humphrey, the hamster, teaches individuals all of sizes valuable lessons. The story is just makes you appreciate the little things in life.
Main characters:
Humphrey: A hamster that is helpful in many different ways. He is creative and full of energy.
Miss Mac: The substitute teacher that buys Humphrey at a pet store to teach her class (room 26) about responsibilty of taking care of things.
Mrs. Brisbane: She is the teacher of room...more
Dec 23, 2008
Carmine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
2-4th graders
Recommended to Carmine by:
Sasquatch bok
Shelves:
juvenile-fiction
A sweet little school drama staring a problem solving hamster. Humphrey is brought to Room 26 and promptly abandoned by the free-spirited substitute teacher. Regular teacher returns and wants to dispatch of the rodent, but is persuaded to keep him a little while longer. Humphrey, ever observant and convieiently mobile due to a faulty lock, spends the whole book solving everyones problems... and in the end, it turns out flightly, creative substitute teacher lady did not abandon him, she just left...more
The World According to Humphrey is a cute story of Humphrey the hamster who lives in room 26 at an elementary school. It is fun for kids to see the world from his point of view, and with quirky sense of humour.
Humphrey is a curious hamster with some fun insights. He tries to help those around them and is always coming up with Plans.
Though there is an overall story, each chapter is almost like its own vignette about Humphrey's life in school and the weekends where he goes home with the kids.
This...more
Humphrey is a curious hamster with some fun insights. He tries to help those around them and is always coming up with Plans.
Though there is an overall story, each chapter is almost like its own vignette about Humphrey's life in school and the weekends where he goes home with the kids.
This...more
Mar 25, 2012
Christine Ruiz
added it
I stumbled across this book on my sister's Kindle. While it's a children's book, it was enjoyable becuase it was certainly different. The book is written from the perspective of a classroom hamster who rotates among the student's houses. He has an intersting view and insight into the families who serve has his host over the weekends. He also befriends the school janitor who talks to Humphrey when he comes in to clean the room. Humphrey of course can't talk but we can "hear" his thought in respon...more
Humphrey is a hamster. A really smart and amazing hamster. Humphrey knows that you can learn a lot by watching other species (humans). Humphrey lives in Room 26, but he gets to sleep over at a different house every weekend. Humphrey is loved by everyone, except Mrs. Brisbane. She’s out to get him. The lovable character gives this story a upbeat tone as Humphrey discovers the truth behind his friends personalities. The “Guide to the Care and Feeding of Hamsters” tips at the end of every chapter a...more
Jared is really into chapter books, or, as he calls them "books without pictures. Well, except there is one picture on the front." We were ready for another one and I thought this one looked cute. Initially Jared wasn't very excited to read it. But after the 1st chapter he was hooked. We often read 2 or 3 chapters at a time just to see what would happen next.
Humphrey is a hamster. Surprise! He lives in room 26, the dreaded Mrs. Brisbane's classroom. But he was bought by Ms. Mac, the substitute...more
Humphrey is a hamster. Surprise! He lives in room 26, the dreaded Mrs. Brisbane's classroom. But he was bought by Ms. Mac, the substitute...more
What this book is mainly about was that every weekend a student takes the hamster home his name was Humphrey. A princeble took the hamster home for the weekend and the cage door didn't lock. Also humphrey went home with A.J and he is the person that talks realy loud and that is because his tv is always so loud. Luckly humphrey was very smart and got out of his cage while they were watching tv and unpluged the tv courd. Then there is this girl sayah that is very quiet because she doesnt speak eng...more
This a cute little story about Humphrey, a young hamster, who is bought by a teacher to help her children learn. Mrs. Mack always says the best way to learn about yourself is to learn about another species.
Humphrey loves Mrs. Mack and staying with her during evenings and weekends with her in her colorful home. He is full of dread when he learns that Mrs. Mack is leaving and is not taking him with him. Humphrey worries as he meets the real teacher who Mrs. Mack had been substituting for and worri...more
Humphrey loves Mrs. Mack and staying with her during evenings and weekends with her in her colorful home. He is full of dread when he learns that Mrs. Mack is leaving and is not taking him with him. Humphrey worries as he meets the real teacher who Mrs. Mack had been substituting for and worri...more
My daughter Alyssa's class has a pet hamster named Humphrey. The students take turns bringing it home for the weekend. They are also reading a series of books about a strikingly similar class hamster who is also named Humphrey. What a coincidence!
Alyssa wanted me to read this book, the first in the series. I enjoyed it thoroughly, even chuckling every now and then. It is very fluid and has a good ending. I hope I retained a lot of it because she promised to give me a quiz. I'm just glad she is n...more
Alyssa wanted me to read this book, the first in the series. I enjoyed it thoroughly, even chuckling every now and then. It is very fluid and has a good ending. I hope I retained a lot of it because she promised to give me a quiz. I'm just glad she is n...more
What an adorable book. Told from the perspective of Humphrey the classroom pet hamster, we learn about all the different personalities and families in Room 26. From families that speak very little English, to families that learn to turn off the TV, to helping the teachers husband find a reason to keep going after a horrible accident; Humphrey helps them all. It's a delightful tale not only about life in a classroom but how everyone and every family is different.
This was such a cute book!!! I read it with my students, and they all loved! It had really good stories within the book. It was all about a hamster who lives in a classroom, and he gets to go home with all the students on the weekend, and there is always a lesson to be learned. There are more books to read, and we can't wait to get to them!
"You can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species," she told me on the way home the day she got me. "You'll teach those kids a thing or t...more
"You can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species," she told me on the way home the day she got me. "You'll teach those kids a thing or t...more
This book was about a hamster named Humphrey. Humphrey wanted someone to buy him while he lived in a pet shop. Then there was a teacher who bought Humphrey and kept him in her classroom (substite teacher). When the real teacher came back (Mrs. Brisbane) she didn't like Humphrey. So she thought of an idea which was every weekend one kid got to take him home. Mrs. Brisbane started liking Humphrey after a while.
This is a great book!! Caden's third grade teacher read this book to her class and Caden loved it so of course I had to read it too. It brought back memories of when I was in second grade because we had a hampster as a class pet. The story is told from the hampsters point of view which makes it cute and funny. I plan on reading it to my second grade class this school year. It is a series of book as well!!
I picked up this book when I was checking out at a bookstore and noticed that I had a few bucks left on my card. Feeling a little tired I just picked the first book I saw that looked like 4th graders might like. JACKPOT! This book was awesome. The book is told in first person by Humphrey a class hamster. Humphrey is so funny and he teaches kids in the book and kids as readers so much. Super Read!
A fun school story that is also an animal fantasy. Pretty surface level with almost no depth to the characters (Everyone changes positively thanks to Humphrey? Really? Everyone? All Mr. Brisbane needed to relieve deep-seated depression was to chase a hamster? OK.) But the kids in book club really liked it and we had plenty to talk about.
Cover to Cover Book Club choice for November 2012.
Cover to Cover Book Club choice for November 2012.
Adorable. Great book for kids and families. This was the book that was chosen by our elementary school for ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK, ONE MONTH. very fun! They had a reading schedule and trivia questions a couple days a week to keep the kids energized in the reading. engaging enough to read to a kindergartener, yet, mature enough and fun enough for a 4th grader. and the mom liked it too!
This realistic fiction is about a hamster named Humphrey, he is the class pet of room 26. His old teacher moves away and the new one comes in, but the new teacher doesn't like him too much. The students take it in turns taking him home for the weekend, when he is at the students house he try's to fix bad habits they have in class, like: not raising your hand, giggling, talking to much, and talk more. Will he help them get better, read the book to find out if he gets the class better.
I recommend...more
I recommend...more
I'm going to use this one as a future selection for my Bookbusters book club at the library (grades 3-5). Sweet story told by a hamster that is purchased from a pet store to be a classroom pet for an elementary school class. Even though it's hard for him to communicate with people, he ends up helping the students and adults in his life in surprising and humorous ways. Daniel read this one too and said it was "funny."
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From kindergarten through graduation, I attended school in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Then I graduated from Webster College (now Webster University) in Webster Groves, Missouri. Of course, I majored in English and kept on writing.
After working in advertising in St. Louis, Missouri and in Chicago, Illinois, I eventually moved to Southern California. First, I worked for Disneyland (fun...more
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Sep 15, 2010 08:50am