Lions and tigers and hamsters, oh my! This week all my books have a main character from the animal kingdom.
And here is the rub, animals books just aren't my thing. There I said it. I generally find that if the main character is a cat, a dog or even the dreaded hamster/mouse it takes a lot to get me to pick up the book. Now there are some exceptions. The Tale of Desperaux had me hooked from the first page, Charlotte's Web - well, need I say more and The One and Only Ivan, last years Newbery winner, was definitely charming. But generally speaking, I am just not an animal person.
Now, here is the problem. While I may not warm to the animal books, I have many kids who absolutely love a good feline in charge, a dog running the show or a mouse exherting his independance. So I delve into this genre from time to time so that I have great recommendations for these kids. The best part is that I always find something that surprises me and makes me think that maybe I could become an animal person, just maybe ....
To see all my animal books this week, visit my blog at www.onegreatbook.com
Title: The World According to Humphrey
Author: Betty Birney
Target: Grades 2-4, although it can be a read aloud for K-1
Series: Yes
What this book is about:
Humphrey the hamster is the newest classroom addition to Room 26, and he makes a significant impact on the students in a quiet, but still squeaky way! By watching, he learns that the students problems are not how they first appear. He is able to get one family to turn off the TV and start interacting with each other and he manages to get the shyest girl in the class to speak up. Each child with whom he interacts learns a valuable lesson and their lives are changed for the better.
Why I love this book:
Well it certainly isn’t because the main character is a hamster! When Betty Birney was scheduled to come to our school to speak I was not jumping up and down enthusiastically to get familiar with her hamster series. All I can say is thank goodness she came to visit, or I wouldn’t have taken a chance on this delightful book.
Humphrey is decidedly fun and not cutesy, which kept me thoroughly engaged in the story. One of my favorite parts is when Humphrey tries to remember the names of the kids in the class and call them “Stop Giggling Gail” or “Raise your Hand Harry” because that’s what he hears the teacher say to them all day long. A clever twist.
Who this book is for:
Great next level chapter book for kids moving past the early chapter book series. The series also makes a nice read aloud for the younger grades. These books are a good bet for most kids.
Final thoughts:
Humphrey does have some extremely witty commentaries, and his guide to the care and feeding of humans at the end is dead on!
