The World According to Humphrey

This is a book (Well quite an extensive series, really) about a little classroom hamster named Humphrey. He is in a classroom of second graders. He loves school, and gets to spend his weekends with a different student each time. In the night, after all the kids have gone home, is when Humphrey has all of his adventures. He has a "lock that doesn't lock" on his cage that allows him to get out and explore. He keeps a little notebook and pencil behind the mirror in his cage so that he can learn along with the students. He helps the kids in his class when he can - always looking out for others.

This series is really cute. My two 10 year olds have had me read every single one of these Humphrey books to them. They have good lessons about show more friendship, family life, classroom behavior. And who can resist a cute little hamster. If you have little ones, definitely check out this series. They will love it. show less

Humphrey is a narrator and hero that is sure to win the hearts of all readers - children, parents, teachers, librarians. With an honest point of view, Humphrey uncovers the joy in many small and common wonders, while teaching his adult masters the importance of family, friendship, and taking chances.

This is probably one of my absolute favorite books. I know, it's a kids book. But I loved this book when I first read it about ten years ago, and it is one of those that stays with you. Humphrey is a witty and genius hamster who is going to live in a classroom. The rambunctious children learn how to take care of Humphrey, and he in turn helps them with their own problems, especially when he spends each weekend at a different child's house, and eventually the teacher's as well. The characters are hilarious, and the story is touching. It is a sweet chapter book which will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. Good for established but still learning chapter-book readers.

Recommended by a patron at Robbins (children's)

The audiobook was a little hard to listen to at first - the narrator uses an (appropriate) quick, high-pitched voice - but the story is undeniably sweet. Humphrey's beloved "Ms. Mac" brings him to Room 26, but it turns out Ms. Mac is a substitute, and when Ms. Brisbane returns, she is not as fond of hamsters - she calls Humphrey a rodent! She leaves him in the classroom alone overnight instead of taking him home like Ms. Mac did, and on the weekends she sends him home with different students (and once, the principal!). Humphrey makes friends and helps people everywhere he goes, from the custodian Aldo to each student he visits to Ms. Brisbane herself over Thanksgiving break. His little show more adventures are fun to read about, and there are some cutesy touches ("Squeak up for yourself!").

See also: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle show less

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 having FUN-FUN-FUN in class, 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 bands (only in self-defense, of course). With lots of friends to help, adventures to enjoy, and a cage with a lock-that-doesn’t- lock, Humphrey's life is almost perfect. If only the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, wasn’t out to get him!

Without being especially challenging or original, Birney's charming story will win over reluctant readers with its humor and compassion.

I like this book for a couple of reasons. The first being I loved how the story is from a hamster's point of view. There are books narrated by many people of many ages, even cats and dogs but the hamsters are rarely heard from. The first person view of a classroom not coming from a student or teacher is refreshing and provides an outside look of a common setting. I also liked how the book pushes readers to broaden perspectives. Humphrey goes home with all the students in the class at one point over the year and at each home he learns something new. Humphrey learns about students' behavior at home impacting the way they behave at school. He sees how turning off the TV can help AJ use an inside voice (91) and how playing and running show more around can bring joy back into someone's life (106). The reader sees how one action, one change can affect a life in so many ways. The change can come from someone big or small and the unlikely heroes can also teach a lot. This also helps portray the big idea about learning a lot from observing another and making changes can make big differences. show less