by Betty G. Birney
"You can learn a lot about yourself by taking care of another species."
About the Book:
The World According to Humphrey is a charming and heartwarming book that schools love to read year after year. It has been a One School, One Book selection for nearly a decade, and it is still just as popular as it was when it came out in 2004.
The book follows the adventures of Humphrey, the classroom hamster in Mrs. Brisbane's class at Longfellow School, as he goes home with a different student—or staff member—every weekend and learns about the different aspects of their lives. Somehow, in his own hamster way, Humphrey is able to learn how to help his human friends solve some of the problems that they sometimes don't even realize they have. And both human and hamster learn a lot in the process. "You can learn a lot about life by observing another species."
Schools that have read this book together love its relatability. The school setting is a familiar environment for students, and many students can see themselves among the students Humphrey observes in Room 26. As the book explores the variety of issues that students may face in their own lives, such as friendship, family, and responsibility, students listening to the story are able to understand and empathize with others who may have different backgrounds and experiences.
Told through Humphrey's eyes, Betty G. Birney has crafted a story that is both entertaining and educational. The book is full of humor and with, and it is written in a way that is easy for young listeners to understand yet is still engaging for students in upper elementary grades. The book is divided into 15 short chapters, making it an ideal choice for reading aloud a chapter at a time over a three-week period.
The World According to Humphrey has received numerous positive reviews from readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly praised the book, saying that it "teaches lessons about caring, perseverance, and cooperation while remaining cheerfully entertaining." Kirkus Reviews called the book "delightful" and noted that it "has enough spunk to keep young readers entertained."
If you haven't read a Humphrey book with your students, you should definitely add this one to your list. Even better, make it a schoolwide reading event where your whole school community—parents, teachers, administrators, custodial and cafeteria staff, even bus drivers!—reads the book together and engages in fun activities themed to the book as you enjoy the story together. This book is sure to be a hit as it captures the hearts and minds of its readers and listeners.
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Sequels & Companion Books
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