A Home for Hamtaro & Other Stories

The Adventures of Hamtaro #1

by Ritsuko Kawai

The Adventures of Hamtaro

Meet the one and only original Hamtaro—the inspiration for the hit animation series—exactly as his creator, Ritsuko Kawai, first imagined him. This charming series of richly illustrated, classic children's tales follows our intrepid hero, hamster Hamtaro, as his adventures take him from pet shop to home to Ham-Ham Clubhouse to the great outdoors and beyond....

Volume 1: A Home for Hamtaro & Other Stories

In this volume, Hamtaro tells of his arrival in his new home, straight from the pet shop. Both Hamtaro and his owner, a girl named Yukari, must learn to understand each other's strange and curious ways. And every time Hamtaro steps out of his cage, he encounters a new adventure ... or peril!

Genres: Manga, Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Comics, Childrens, Animals, Fiction

78 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Ritsuko Kawai (河井 リツ子 Kawai Ritsuko, born March 3, 1964) is a Japanese manga artist known as the creator of the Hamtaro franchise. She was born in Osaka, Japan, and received a design degree from Kyoto Saga University of Arts. After graduation, she set out to Tokyo to seek her fortune as a comic-book artist.

Kawai originally created Hamtaro as storybooks for children first published in 1997 (serialized in Shogaku Ni Nensei, a magazine for Japanese schoolchildren published by Shogakukan) and adapted into an anime television series in Japan in July 2000. The animation series based on her Hamtaro books began broadcasting in English in the United States in July of 2002. Her Hamtaro books have sold more than 6 million copies in Japan.

Other than Hamtaro, Ritsuko Kawai has created other shōjo manga, serialized in Ciao magazine.

Reviews

[gretch · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute!!! idec that all my friends are reading novels and i’m over here reading children’s manga and comics. this was so healing to read and i love that it included hamster care tips for kids 🥹 i love u hamtaro 🐹

[Tatum · Rating 4 out of 5]

YAY HAMTARO!

[Kestrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up for the stinking cute art and wasn't disappointed, so lovely

[Claudia Qi · Rating 5 out of 5]

a ham-ham bestseller

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first volume a lot more than the third volume. But, again, Laura's name - Yukari - is different than what I am used to.

This volume is full of fun stories about Hamtaro's big adventure's around Yukari's place after she brings him home. We are given a little backstory, and it moves right into the stories. Also, there are tips for raising hamsters included in between the stories as well.

I had a teddy bear hamster as a child. (I think they are really cute!) But, I couldn't have one now, as the cats would probably eat him.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

animals, new pet, moving

Who has
glyph
base ten
hamster pattern block

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is incredibly "omgcute." It does not have any particularly stressful parts involving raising hamsters, which is like when mine escaped in the middle of the night or had encounters with the other pets.
My hamster became so grizzled and old, but this reminds me of when he was younger.

So even if you don't typically like obnoxiously-cute stuff, I think it's respectable.

[Kuchipatchi]

It's truly a shame this isn't online anywhere, I love Hamtaro but I'm not forking over $80-$100 for a children's book (unless it is online somewhere...and someone wanna fill me in....for research purposes....)

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is so charming. Hamtaro was such a cute hammy getting into some mischief. The tips for hamster care was a nice surprise. I know the author had several hamsters when she was writing this series. I can’t wait for the next one!

[Oxalis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute origin stories of the adorable Hamtaro.

[Franyloslibros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que bonito es, me gusto mucho tener esta lectura, me pude relajar bastante sin tener que presionarme en terminarlo. Me gustaron mucho las ilustraciones.

[Ayla Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamtaro is a cute book. I used to love this book when I was little.

[sidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOOOOOVE YOU HAMTARO 🐹

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other than some questionable hamster care this book was very cute.

[Sandra Mir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book and story for children. For those who have just moved to new homes and schools, those children can relate to little Hamtaro as he tries to make new friends in a new home. I would use this book to ease children into liking chapter books for it is a cross between pictures and chapters. I would also read or lend this book out to students who are new to the school. I personally loved this book and what adventures lie in its pages.

[Madison Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet graphic novel that ideal for children and animals lovers alike. I borrowed this from my art teacher while we were learning about comics, and it was a nice example. Both a fun story and also something of a guide to hamster owning for children, I'd recommend it to those who like art or those who just want to sit back with a very cute story.

[Shally · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh. whatever. short

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

too cute, great entry into the world of comics/manga for kids

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very cute, and I appreciated all of the advice for kids on how to treat their tiny pets well.

[τλιϓλ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this book, I love Hamtaro a lot

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too cutesy for my taste. Hamtaro had his day in the sun, though, and I'm sure he still has his fans.

[B-zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet stories, cute drawings.