Imagination According to Humphrey

According to Humphrey #11

by Betty G. Birney

Humphrey's eleventh adventure celebrates stories, writing, and the power of the imagination! 

Imaginations are running wild in Mrs. Brisbane’s class, but Humphrey is stumped. His friends are writing about where they would go if they could fly, but Humphrey is HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY right where he is in Room 26.

It’s pawsitively easy for Humphrey to picture exciting adventures with dragons and knights in the story Mrs. Brisbane is reading aloud. He has no trouble coming up with Plans to help his friends and tricks to entertain them. His imagination even goes a little too far when he wonders if Carlos’s imaginary friend might be a ghost.

If only his imagination wouldn’t disappear when he tries to write. Luckily, Humphrey likes a challenge, and Mrs. Brisbane has lots of writing tips that do the trick.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Chapter Books, School, Fantasy, Juvenile

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 22, 2015

About the author

From kindergarten through graduation, I attended school in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Then I graduated from Webster College (now Webster University) in Webster Groves, Missouri. Of course, I majored in English and kept on writing.

After working in advertising in St. Louis, Missouri and in Chicago, Illinois, I eventually moved to Southern California. First, I worked for Disneyland (fun job!) in the advertising department. The monorail whizzed past my window all day long. Then I worked at the Disney Studio in Burbank, where I had another fun job, writing and producing television and radio commercials and theatrical trailers (previews of coming attractions) for everything from re-releases of "Cinderella" and "Fantasia" to "Tex."

When the Disney Channel was started, I became a writer and story editor for WELCOME TO POOH CORNER. Since then, I've written more than 200 episodes of animated and live-action television programs including MADELINE, DOUG, BOBBY'S WORLD, DUMBO'S CIRCUS, THE PUZZLE PLACE, CAMP CANDY, LITTLE MOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, WHERE'S WALDO, FRAGGLE ROCK and ZOOBILEE ZOO. That's right, I write cartoons! I also wrote a number of award-winning afterschool specials and many interactive CD-ROM programs, including the award-winning "Berenstain Bears on their Own," "Richard Scarry's Busiest Neighborhood Ever," and "The Crayon Factory."

A made-for-television family movie I wrote, MARY CHRISTMAS, starring John Schneider, Cynthia Gibb and Tom Bosley, aired on the PAX network in 2002. It was the highest rated movie in PAX history and has aired each Christmas season since then.

I have been fortunate enough to win a Writer's Guild of America Award and three Humanitas Prizes (as well as two other nominations). In 2002, I won a Daytime Emmy Award for MADELINE, after two previous Emmy nominations. More recently, I received the Christopher Award for FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY, many children's choice awards for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY and was inducted into the Affton (MO) School District Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Chelsea Hoschar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Humphrey story is all about using your imagination to create amazing stories about grand adventures. Humphrey learns along with his classmates in Room 26 about what makes a good story and how to be creative when you are writing one. Humphrey writes his own story as his classmates make theirs. He goes on some interesting adventures to classmates' homes over the weekends and learns more about their families and lives. Through these discoveries, he figures out how he can better help them with their problems or feelings of sadness or loneliness. Humphrey is excited to hear the stories his friends have written after they are all finished and is even more excited to see the special surprise that the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, has for the class at the end of the book. This Humphrey tale will get your imagination swirling with inspiration and will leave you smiling!!

[Charisa Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kid liked it and he really liked the Gail Goodfriend book - he would like to read that himself. He would change Gigi being scared to go to a kids house. He doesn’t like animals to be scared. Themes using your imagination, things you think are a bad idea might actually be a good idea

I also enjoyed the book. I like Gigi. It’s nice to see Humphrey world expanding.

[Greg Strandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6-year-old son enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it had some clever parts as well.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t go wrong with Humphrey- these books are charming! (Library)

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to my 3rd graders

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (8yo) and I truly enjoyed reading all of the Humphrey books together! Humphrey is a true hero!

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first grade son had been looking forward to reading this book ever since we saw a "Coming Soon!" advertisement at the end of one of the other Humphrey books. We were super excited to finally read it!

In many ways, this book delivers just what you would expect from a Humphrey book. Humphrey pays attention in class, he sometimes leaves his cage during the week when the school is empty, and he goes home with his classroom friends on the weekends and finds ways to help them. But, in my opinion, the overarching storyline is lacking. Mrs. Brisbane is teaching the kids about writing and storytelling, and they each have to write a piece of fiction imagining what they would do if they could fly. Writing came easily for some kids while other kids struggled. I'm sorry to say, it just wasn't very exciting or interesting to me.

My son enjoyed the book as expected, but even he gave it 4 stars - instead of his usual 5 stars for Humphrey books - because the book contradicted something he learned in school! On page 45, at the start of chapter 5, Mrs. Brisbane introduces the class to homonyms. According to the book, examples of homonyms are "groan" and "grown", and "ate" and "eight". To be honest, I am pretty sure that's what I remember learning in elementary school myself, about 30 years ago. However, my son's first grade class has been talking about homophones all year, and his teacher made it very clear that "homophones" are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings - like "groan" and "grown". "Homonyms" are words that sound the same and are spelled the same, but have different meanings - like "weigh on a scale" and "scale the wall". One quick Google search confirms that, in the strictest sense, my son's teacher is correct, but also that some people and even some dictionaries do allow for broader definitions of "homonym", which frequently leads to confusion.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

School Library Journal
( November 01, 2014; 9780399257971 )


Gr 2-4-The students in Room 26 at Longfellow School are on their way to becoming writers. Mrs. Brisbane is encouraging them to use their imagination and fill in the blank to the sentence "If I could fly, I would _____." Humphrey, the class hamster, wants to try, too, but finds himself suffering from a case of writer's block. All around him, imaginations are soaring while his seems to have flown away. When not scribbling in his hamster-sized notebook, Humphrey sneaks out of his cage to visit another pet and spends the weekend at a classmate's home, where he tries to help with various problems. The theme of perseverance is prevalent throughout this pleasant early chapter book. It includes tips for budding writers and could spark a class discussion about inspiration. Purchase where "Humphrey" books are popular.-Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*I thought this review was right on target. I think this book would be great for a read aloud when teaching students about using your imagination to write.

[Pubudini Jayakody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover caught my eye( the Humphrey in the edition with me is too cute😘 ) I knew it is for kids. And when the pre-reading review session was happening I knew it is for kids; kids who are so little😊 I didn't care.
I loved the book, it's obvious that my favourite character was Humphrey😊 Talkative Sophie, determined Rosie and Mrs Brisbane was my other favourites. Oh! forgot to mention Og! "BOING-BOING"
Well, I won't read Betty G Birney's books again. I am supposed to say bye to the kids' stories because I'm kind of a adult now. Well I believe young adult still suits me😍 But I'm sure I'll read them out for my kids(in the future/when I have one) as bed time stories.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

At long last I have finally finished the Humphrey series. I must admit I am really annoyed to not have the final book to get a better close to the story and see what happens to everyone. I feel like I'd even get to see the kids from the last class a lot more since it's the end and I do miss them a lot.

I enjoyed this one in the same way I did the others. It was a good bit shorter then the last ones though. I did even shed a few tears of happiness when Humphrey helped Sophie. It was very heart warming and that's what I love about these books.

The whole seris was very precious and as I said sometimes really got to your heart. I really think we could all learn something from Humphrey and that these books are definitely worth reading. Especially for kids!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 star rating
My younger daughter and I continue to LOVE-LOVE-LOVE this series. This one in particular is one of my favorites - I really liked the presentation that even though a student was struggling with writing it was ok - and both Mrs. Brisbane and especially Rosie, a fellow student, gave encouragement to help the struggling student along.

Humphrey continues to be so CUTE-CUTE-CUTE. My daughter's favorite part of this book was Humphrey pretending to be a rhino and doing quite the CHARGE in his cage :)

So sad we're coming to the end of this series - but grateful we still have one more!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, and my son liked this book, but we didn't think it was Humphrey at his best. As another reviewer pointed out, what were talked about in this book were 'homophones', and not 'homonyms' -- it is kind of a small point, unless you are in school learning about them. Also, most books, this one included I'm sure, are not written with just a sentence, then a paragraph, and then a book. There is usually an outline involved, and many, many drafts.

[Stephen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful tale

I read this book to my son before bedtime; a chapter per night. (He often asks for 2.)

The chapters are just the right length settle a young man down before bed.

I stumbled on Betty Birney’s books after trying several others. Her stories are smart, thoughtful, and well crafted.

I highly recommend them. (Even if she doesn’t use the Oxford comma. Think of the children, Betty!)

[Hannah Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry Betty Birney, you dropped the ball on this one's resolution. The problem of the book (Joey's absent family and most likely leaning disability which is labeled as "is struggling with his writing assignment") isn't solved. Humphrey solves problems. That's who he is. I hope we get a real resolution in the next one.

[Bernadette Kearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute installment of the Humphrey series. My third grader loves reading these books together with me. I liked the writing theme in this book and the students' families that we learned more about. I love that kids always learn to be helpful to others, that all kids/families have struggles and that taking care of animals is an important responsibility.

[Mousie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I love this Humphrey story. The only thing that I found disappointing was that Humphrey didn't get to share the story he wrote with the people in Room 26. I was sure that there would be a nifty ending where Humphrey would somehow leave his story out somewhere, where it would be discovered, and everyone would be wondering who wrote it.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second grade reading group and I very much enjoyed this book. There were some great writing ideas and lessons that the students were able to learn from and connect with. Humphrey continues to be a fun, positive, and age-appropriate choice for young, but high readers.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third time reading this with a group of kids - and I think it's the best. They are inspired by Humphrey's writing tips and they are trying to follow them all. I'm inspired by this - I hope we can make a connection to some authors just like the kids in Room 26 did. Fun!

[C.G.Koens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read aloud to the kids (ages 8-12) at night. I liked the addition of Gigi the Guinea pig in Ms. Mac's room, and as with all Humphrey books, that all was well in the end. Another hit with the kids.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series was a hit with both my kids (and were the first chapter books my younger one was excited to listen to), but this one in particular was great. It inspired my 7 year old to write his own stories. To enjoy the reading experience and want to create your own books? What a win.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's animal fiction. Humphrey the hamster is back in book 11 of the series. The students in Mrs. Brisbane's class are on a writing adventure, inspired by the dragon book they read as a class. Humphrey follows along but is hit with writer's block. As the students revise their stories, Humphrey takes advantage of the tips too. Fun story with the bonus of writing tips.

[Tweller83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute installment of the Humphrey series. I liked the addition of the pet that didn't become a class pet, I liked how he helped his human and gerbil friend. Cute series that I like to keep for the grandchild. I would recommend this series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old finished this one on her own, but I had listened to most of it with her in the car. They talked about how to write fiction.

[Shera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated by Drew

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsome

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great imagination. but not really the book I'm into.

[Alice English · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely cute book

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute as always! Boys loved it.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure awaits Mrs. Brisbane's class! Humphrey and his friends dive in to another adventure, fun to the tiniest details!

[Monika Kozlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can learn so much from a little hamster