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Find out moreBetty G. Birney worked at Disneyland for many years, has written several children’s television shows and is the author of over twenty-five books, including the best-selling The World According to Humphrey, which won the Richard and Judy Children's Book Club, Friendship According to Humphrey, Trouble According to Humphrey, Surprises According to Humphrey and More Adventures According to Humphrey. Her work has won many awards, including an Emmy and three Humanitas Prizes. She lives in America with her husband.
Betty Birney on Betty Birney:
I wrote my first "book" at age seven. It was called "Teddy Bear in the Woods" and was followed by a sequel. Luckily, my parents encouraged my writing and my sister, Janet, was a great writer and role model.
I didn't just write, however. When I wasn't roller-skating (my favorite pastime), I was riding my bike, playing piano, swimming, reading, playing cards and board games or just hanging out with my friends. I loved school, but I loved vacations, too!
Another delightful story about Humprey the Hamster and his freinds full of relatable life lessons that help young readers deal with growing up.
Read this, and you’ll never see a pet in the same way again! A hamster-eye view of school, families and having fun takes readers on a roller-coaster of human/pet relationships. Classroom pet Humphrey gets to go home each weekend with a different pupil. It’s a steep learning curve as he learns to handle all kinds of weird behaviour both human and animal. Humphrey’s diary is a joy to read.
Read this, and you’ll never see a pet in the same way again! A hamster-eye view of school, families and having fun takes readers on a roller-coaster of human/pet relationships. Classroom pet Humphrey gets to go home each weekend with a different pupil. It’s a steep learning curve as he learns to handle all kinds of weird behaviour both human and animal. Humphrey’s diary is a joy to read. ~ Julia Eccleshare
The adventures in Humphrey's Room 26 are hopping back into the spotlight, from the perspective of Og the Frog!When Og the Frog first comes to Room 26, he doesn't know what to think. He misses his friends from the pond, there are all kinds of strange noises, and the water is his tank just might be too clean (you know, a little muck never hurt anyone). But the furry, squeaky fellow living next to him is endlessly entertaining, the kids sure are friendly, and--BING, BANG, BOING!--they put big fat crickets right into his tank. All of this gives Og lots of ideas for one of his favorite passtimes--making up poems and songs. But he gets stumped when talk turns to sending him back to the pond. Will he have to say good-bye to Tabitha whose whole life just changed like his? Or Mandy who just started seeing the bright side of things with his help? And Humphrey, who he's finally beginning to figure out? Og's frog's-eye view of the world is curious, sympathetic, and poetic, and the perfect companion to The World According to Humphrey.
The first book in the series about everyone's favorite classroom pet! 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! Boys and girls can't help falling in love with Humphrey!
After the holidays, Humphrey is shocked by a big surprise in Room 26-a new class pet! Humphrey tries to be welcoming, but Og the frog doesn't respond to any of his friendly squeaks or visits (remember, he has a lock-that-doesn't-lock). Plus, the students are so interested in Og, they almost stop paying attention to Humphrey altogether. Humphrey doesn't like the mad-bad-sad feelings he's had since Og came, but luckily he still gets to have adventures with different kids on the weekends. Friendship can be tricky, but Humphrey is an intrepid problem-solver. If any hamster can become buddies with a frog, he can.
Humphrey loves to solve problems for his classmates in Room 26, but he never meant to create one! Golden-Miranda, one of his favorite students, gets blamed when Humphrey is caught outside of his cage while she's in charge. Since no one knows about his lock-that-doesn't-lock, he can't exactly squeak up to defend her. Humphrey really has his paws full when Don't-Complain- Mandy-Payne and her family stir up more big trouble. Humphrey manages to help Pay-Attention-Art and Sit-Still-Seth and even survives a trip to the vet, but can he clear Miranda's name without giving up his freedom forever?
Best-selling class hamster Humphrey finds out many fascinating things as a new term begins in Room 26. It all begins when the words ‘pharaoh, papyrus, pyramid and hieroglyphics’ appear on the classroom blackboard… Suddenly, Humphrey finds himself caught up in all kinds of secrets from far-off Egypt. And, like many others, he finds that keeping secrets isn’t a good idea! ~ Julia Eccleshare
Children’s favourite Humphrey the hamster is back for another adventure, his twelfth no less. The good news is that he’s just as delightful as ever, his school-hamster-eye view of the world just as funny and generous. Humphrey gets to listen in on all the children’s lessons from his cage in the corner, and is particularly excited at the thought of trying some creative writing. It’s not easy, but he perseveres; trips home with children for the weekend providing him with lots of ideas. By the end of the book, his imagination is working overtime, the BEST-BEST-BEST feeling in the world! These sweet and easy to read little stories have much to recommend them: Humphrey is a real character and there are little moral messages slipped in with the animal fun. ~ Andrea Reece
Celebrated class hamster Barney is back for an exciting new adventure. This time, all the action of Christmas is filling Room 26 as everyone gets ready for the Winter Wonderland Show. But not everything is going to plan. As ever, it takes Barney to do something a little extra special and make it a Christmas that everyone in Room 26 will remember for ever. ~ Julia Eccleshare.
Lovable Humphrey is back with more classroom exploits. When popular class teacher Mrs Brisbane doesn’t arrive for school one day Humphrey is unsqueakably worried. The class are soon having a little too much fun with supply teacher Mr E and not quite enough learning but Humphrey is determined to get to the bottom of Mrs Brisbane’s mysterious disappearance. Taking inspiration from the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, Humphrey begins to search for clues. Will he discover where Mrs Brisbane has gone? And will his friend Og the Frog be the Mr Watson to his Mr Holmes? Yet another delightful tale with our funny, furry hero who brings a very unique and different view to life in the classroom ~ Shelley Fallows