By popular demand! The simple, accessible, wonderful, endearing story of the humble hamster – Humphrey. With his common sense and aggressive nose for right and wrong, Humphrey turns the world of those he meets upside down – for the better! Fresh from the Pet-O-Rama, Humphrey is initially a reluctant member of Room 26 at Longfellow School, already missing his first hostess (the notorious Ms. Mac) and wary of the seemingly dour Mrs. Brisbane. Humphrey slowly endears himself to the students in Room 26, and to the adults lucky enough to know him (including the principal and the vital school custodian).
What Humphrey really does is teach lessons, the non-didactic kind, leading by example. It is Betty G. Birney’s genius to let Humphrey convey life lessons that give both students and adults confidence, enabling them to confront their secrets and meet their respective challenges. And she does all this in a quick book enlivened by brisk prose and easily accessible disguised homilies. (“You can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species.”)
Like Humphrey, when you meet students like Raise-Your-Hand-Heidi, Repeat-That-Please-Richie, and Speak-Up-Sayeh, you will embrace their interests and needs as you admire Humphrey’s alert and sensible solutions. Similarly, your students and families will find themselves racing into The World According to Humphrey without realizing how quickly they’ll be charmed and hooked. (And want more.)
Note: The World According to Humphrey is an ideal selection for schools wanting to ensure younger readers/listeners can benefit from your school-wide reading program. And for hungry families who catch the habit of reading aloud together from Humphrey, there are now thirteen in the series! (Read to Them currently offers resource materials for seven of them.)
