Einstein the Class Hamster

Einstein the Class Hamster

by Janet Tashjian, Jake Tashjian (Illustrations)

Einstein the class hamster is from a long line of class hamsters. He knows lots of cool facts about science, art, and history—maybe even more than their sleepy teacher, Ms. Moreno. The class has a chance to compete in a trivia game show contest. But how can they get ready for the contest if Ms. Moreno keeps taking naps instead of teaching? More important, how can Einstein help the class prepare for the contest when the only kid who can hear him is Ned?

Janet and Jake Tashjian team up again in this hilarious new series starring the lovable walking encyclopedia, game show–obsessed Einstein.

Genres: Humor, Fantasy, Childrens, Juvenile, School, Fiction, Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

Janet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.

Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.

Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.

We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...

Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...

Reviews

[Angus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious antics of a class hampster, appropriately named Einstein and his best human friendm Ned, who can hear him talk. I read this aloud to my 7 year old. He was truly entertained. Included are fun facts about different topics delivered in a quiz show format which invite great interaction, especially at the end when the reader is challenged to see what they can remember. The facts are appropriately entertaining such as where on the planet you find the most mosquitos or which planet has dust devils. Super fun illustrations by Jake Tashjian. A rollicking good read aloud.

[Ellen Zarate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book. It's great for young elementary students. Einstein and his human class friend, Ned, work together to get Ned's class on a game show. The book is filled with a variety of fascinating facts, called "Einstein's Tasty Tidbits" and there's a quiz at the end. A great read for young readers who like to learn while they read.

[Laila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud with my son who LOVES the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and likes Junie B. Jones and Stink. I thought the dialog was a little stilted and the story a little ridiculous, but he seemed to enjoy it, and he especially liked the "Tasty Tidbits" factoids that Einstein the Hamster collected at the end of each chapter.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever & cute story!

[nicole dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huck loved and read in a day

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, and I really liked all the facts that were shared. I'll have my kids read through it quick, but it's definitely younger than I expected.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun facts for kids interwoven into the story. Hamster wants to be a trivia game show host!

[weirdo named Henry Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a funny book! This cracked me up! I didnt know most of the facts on the Tasty Tidbits. Best book ever!!!!!!

[LadyTea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I plan to use this book as our Kids' Book Club reading selection for December. Fun-spirited but filled with facts, it is perfect for a follow-up game show activity/program with young readers. Einstein the hamster is a bright and clever classroom pet (descended from a several generations of savvy classroom hamsters) who has lofty aspirations of achieving fame by hosting his own trivia game show and posing as substitute teacher in his classroom. I have one critique: I know the absurd elements are thrown in the story to appeal to elementary student humor, but I actually wish that narcolepsy had been the reason for the classroom teacher's constant napping. Facts about sleeping disorders were shared in one of Einstein's "Tasty Tidbits" anyway, but I think that element of realism would have added something plausible and 3-dimensional to the teacher's otherwise flat character. Then again, maybe I'm too trapped in my adult way of thinking to accept that it's funnier to a 'tween that the classroom teacher can't stay awake in class because she overdoses on late night tv infomercial products instead. Oh well...in any case this should be a fun read prior to the winter holidays that even our younger book club members (our members range from ages 7 to 11) should be able to enjoy. I'd love to re-enact the lightning round trivia questions with them and maybe even teach them to play Yahtzee just like Einstein and his buddy Marlon the classroom turtle.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was nothing trivial about fun facts--any class hamster could tell you that.

While I am a lover of trivia, I was somewhat skeptical going into this book, worrying it might cross that very thin line into pedantic condescension, being more about selling the idea that learning is fun than telling a fun story. Fortunately, I found my worries largely misplaced. Giving Einstein a quiz show obsession proved a natural vehicle for sharing fun facts and information, and allowed for the story to unfold around that interest with a plot that made sense and organic character development. Of course, all of those elements occur within the context of the constant broad humor and silly illustrations, which combine with everything else to make an entertaining and fun package for young readers.

3.5 stars, tipped up to 4 to more strongly contrast against the 2 stars I gave the similar (and similarly named) recent title by Jon Scieszka, Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (" . . . it takes what could have been a fun and zany story and makes it awkwardly pedantic, artificial, and ridiculously riddled with overly detailed science information . . . ").

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt very middle-of-the-road about this book. I liked the educational tidbits that were sprinkled through the story. It never hurts to learn some new trivia while reading! There's also some good lessons here, such as sulking never solves anything, so just get to work.

There were several things I didn't like about the story. First, the class hamster angle is done much better in the Humphrey series by Betty Birney. I also was not fond of some of the sophomoric components of the story -- throwing the word "poop" in for chuckles, picture of the principal with labels of "fool, cretin, knuckle head, moron," and a teacher who falls asleep randomly because she stays up late watching infomercials. The story would have been just fine without those parts that dumbed it down.

I might recommend this book for reluctant readers, but it isn't high on my list.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Einstein The Class Hamster by Janet Tashjian, illustrated by Jake Tashjian – Well, this is one hilarious book with a main character, Einstein, who would do anything to host a show called ANSWER… THAT QUESTION! And help students learn new information… because he is from a long line of class hamsters and is packed with cool facts. I enjoyed learning random facts throughout. My one little regret is that at the end of the book, there are interesting website “learn more” links shared but they are so ridiculously long, I can’t imagine myself or a student typing them into their computer, wish the publisher had shortened them.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a terrifically fun story, perfect for 3-4th grade readers. Einstein the class hamster loves trivia and games shows and can only be heard by Merlin the turtle and Ned, a quiet boy in class. The class has a sleep- deprived teacher, who nods off in class, and they finally get to audition for the game show, with Ned and Einstein's help. Interspersed with trivia tidbits, this is a quick, funny book for newly independent readers. The illustrations are the weak point, done by the author's son, the hamster bears a striking resemblance to a baked potato.

[Kristen Rusnak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tashjian, J. (2013). Einstein the class hamster. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

This silly and easy to read chapter book is about a class hamster named Einstein who is obsessed with facts and game shows.

I would recommend this book to students who enjoy the My Weird School series, the Black Lagoon series, the Big Nate series and the Bad Kitty series.

Would recommend this for students in grades 2-4. Primary / Intermediate

From Follett Titlewave: Reviews & Awards

Booklist 09/01/13

Publishers Weekly 06/03/13

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ned is the only kid in class that can hear Einstein, the class hamster. Which is too bad because it is Einstein's dream to teach the class by emceeing "Answer that Question." When Ms. Moreno decides her class should audition for the game show "Kids Know Stuff", Einstein is sure this is his big chance. And, in a way, it is because Ned takes him home for the weekend and they study for the contest.

Interspersed with "Einstein's Tasty Tidbits" and humorous illustrations, this should be a favorite of students.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is no question that this will resonate with its intended audience. It's funny and features a talking hamster. Kids in 2-4 grade, especially those who love silly (and some poop) humor, will love it. It's just not really my cup of tea. I did like the facts sprinkled in throughout. I'm always looking for books to hand to kids when they come in asking for a "funny book" and this one will definitely be added to my list, especially for those kids who are a little too young for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and its ilk.

[Brandi Rae Fong · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the intended audience will really enjoy it; however I found the "Einstein's Tasty Tidbits" to interrupt the flow of the story too much for my taste. They were interesting, but maybe if there were fewer of them?

Overall entertaining, I'll definitely be handing this to the kids who like the diary/comic format, particularly the ones who want to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Loser List but aren't really old enough for those titles.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Einstein, the class hamster who can only talk to Ned, wants nothing more than to host a quiz show. When Ned's class tries out for a class quiz show, Einstein helps Ned prepare his classmates. Each chapter ends with some of Einstein's favorite facts, presented in paragraph form. The book is charming enough, though I didn't care for the class covering up for the sleepy teacher's ways. I also didn't love the illustrations, though the are a fine compliment for the text.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Class hamster, Einstein, is able to speak to just one student, Ned. Einstein is brilliant, as his name implies, and makes Ned the class hero by tutoring him for the quiz show Answer...that...question. Fun characters, Twinkles the python is the evil character, then there is Einstein, the class turtle and the teacher, Ms. Moreno who naps more than teaches.

Fun trivia is sprinkled through out the story. Fun, fast read.

Order these for library.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Einstein is the class pet. He talks, but only Ned can hear him. Einstein loves trivia and wants to help his class learn, especially since the teacher is less than stellar. Illustrated by the author’s son. A good read for lower elementary, possibly struggling middle school students, but it does look and read young.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining story that both my first grader and preschooler enjoyed. "Einstein's Tasty Tidbits" was one of my older daughter's favorite parts of the book. Having facts incorporated into the story was a huge bonus for her, as she is currently fascinated by odd facts and re-read those with relish. We're looking forward to a second book in the series.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new series for younger readers by the successful mother-son team, famous for their My Life as a Book series. Young readers transitioning to slightly longer chapter books will appreciate the large font and cartoon-style illustrations as well as the humor and fun facts aka Einstein's Tasty Tidbits interspersed throughout the book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think 1st-3rd graders will enjoy this series. I wasn't such a huge fan. Einstein's personality was actually quite annoying. The illustrations were kind of odd too, he really didn't look like any hamster I have ever seen.

[Franki Sibberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really funny and perfect for 3rd graders. A good mix of text and pictures so perfect for transitional readers.I laughed out loud several times while reading it. I can think of lots of kids who will love it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book. Lots of random trivia and humor...great for 3rd grade level readers. It isn't text heavy and is in short chapters. I liked the random facts...keeps the reader interested. Great classroom library addition (once Liam is done with it!).

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's a fantastic choice for kids who only want to read Guinness World Records books or Ripley's Believe it or Not!, but who are forced to read fiction instead. It's packed full of fun facts, the format is full of illustrations, and the plot is slight but moves quickly.

[Alexina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protagonists: Einstein (the hamster) and his best friend Ned

Supporting characters: Marlon (turtle), Twinkles (python), Ms. Moreno (teacher), Bonnie (classmate)

Einstein helps Ned prepare himself and his class for a trivia game show.

Good book for young readers, 3rd-4th grade or younger.

[Kathleen Guinnane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weird little story about a trivia loving hamster. He can communicate with one kid in the class and assists the class study to get on a TV show while the teacher sleeps at her desk. It's weird, but my students will like it.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, funny story about Einstein, the class hamster, who becomes determined to save the school library when it is closed due to budget cuts.
Full of fun facts- or rather Einstein's Tasty Tidbits - throughout this would be a great one for those reluctant readers.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, My Life as a Book, and Loser List will probably like this series. The series focuses on a talking class pet that only Ned can understand. Einstein's dream is to host his own game show. The books is silly and includes illustrations that may attract many readers.