Surprises According to Humphrey

According to Humphrey #4

by Betty G. Birney

The fourth book in the beloved and award-winning school hamster series!

A classroom hamster has to be ready for anything, but suddenly there are LOTS-LOTS-LOTS of big surprises in Humphrey's world. Some are exciting, like a new hamster ball. But some are scary, like a run-in with a cat and a new janitor who might be from another planet. But even with all that's going on, Humphrey finds time to help his classmates with their problems. But will Mrs. Brisbane's unsqueakable surprise be too much for Humphrey to handle?

Look for all twelve of Humphrey's adventures!

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2008

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

[Sarah Beneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Humphrey book! I actually got choked up at the end of this one - Mrs. Brisbane is contemplating retirement. Spoiler alert, she doesn't retire! But the school, parents, etc., throw her a surprise party to show their appreciation for all she has done.

Jake loved this one as well. He especially laughed about Sweetums a cat that is stalking Humphrey. Lots of good fun!

[Nekolina Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story about Humphrey the hamster that I read out loud to Jet. It kept us entrained from beginning to end. (And I even had a few tears in my eyes is the last couple chapters).

[Smaileh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humphrey the hamster returns in his fourth book of adventures as the classroom pet of room 26. We're coming to the end of the school year and there is plenty going on. I-Heard-That-Kirk brings in a hamster ball so Humphrey can roam around the classroom. (Nobody knows about the lock-that-doesn't-lock and how Humphrey does plenty of roaming on his own when no one is watching.) On his weekend stay at Wait-for-the-Bell-Garth's house, Humphrey goes on an unexpected roll down the hill in his ball and comes face to face with a curious cat. When Aldo the janitor comes to clean the classroom speaking in a language Humphrey doesn't understand and then is replaced by a stranger, Humphrey becomes convinced that Aldo has been kidnapped by aliens. Most worrying, Mrs. Brisbane hasn't decided whether or not she wants to come back to teach next year.

There is a lot of charm in this series of books which looks at classroom activities through the eyes of a classroom pet. I like his use of repetition for emphasis--things aren't just fun, they're FUN-FUN-FUN! I also like his definitions which close each chapter. A suprise is "something totally unexpected and unplanned for...[it:] can be both good and bad, like a shiny balloon (a good thing) that suddenly pops and scares you (a bad thing)." Humphrey cares deeply about the children in his classroom and wants to help them with their problems. He also has the opportunity to watch the teacher and get to know her in a way that the students don't.

Surprises for Humphrey is on the 2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee List.

[Ms. Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew before I ever started reading it that SURPRISES ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY would be a little young for my students. I still wanted to read it, because I love the idea of the class hamster narrating the story. Oh, it had the potential to be just adorable. (At least I hoped so!)

Humphrey tells of his experiences in Mrs. Brisbane's classroom at Longfellow School. He describes normal, everyday events from his perspective, which often lead to humorous miscalculations. When a new custodian comes in to clean the room, Humphrey is convinced that she must be a space alien. She talks to the "mother ship" by pressing something on her ear and has wires attached to her ears. I chuckled over the obvious description of an iPod with earphones and a Bluetooth phone receiver.

I can't help but compare Humphrey to Hank the Cowdog. There are many similarities in tone, humor, and style. While completely opposite in setting and plot, I think readers who enjoy one series will appreciate the other.

SURPRISES ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY is a cute and clever tale. I know it's set in an elementary school and ideally suited for 3rd or 4th graders, but I think there really might be some appeal for middle schoolers. Granted, it's not a challenging read for them, but I believe they could appreciate the humorous situations that Humphrey describes.

Yes, this was every bit as adorable as I'd hoped. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone from 3rd grade to about 6th or 7th grade. My grade? A 'B+'.

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super cute.
Humfrey is a classroom pet at Longfellow School. When Aldo the janitor gets "replaced" with a different lady who Humfrey thinks is an alien. He doesn't even eat the carrot she gives him! One night when she comes to clean, her ear-phone rings:

Suddenly, there was a loud noise-not exactly music, but not exactly a ringing either. It sounded like the music of another planet. The mother ship was calling! The alien cleaner tapper her ear. The music stopped. "Hi. Yeah, it's me. I'm cleaning." WHAT-WHAT-WHAT was going on? First she makes Aldo say things I don't understand and now she speaks English. "I'm finished with the program. Yeah, I don't take off for Spurling till summer."

When Humfrey hears her say "Yeah, I don't take off for Spurling till summer.", he assumes that "Spurling" is a planet from another galaxy in which she lives.

The "alien janitor" turns out to be Aldo's niece! And Aldo hired her to take his job on!

Mrs. Brisbane has been teaching for thirty years at Longfellow School and is debating on signing a form to say she will still stay. She signs it and the whole school throws a party!

Mrs. Brisbane makes a day called Wacky Wednesday where your not allowed to raise your hand and if you do.......EVERYONE HAS TO PUT THIER HANDS IN THE AIR AND MAKE MONKEY NOISES!!!!
This helps Raise-Your-Hand-Hedei to raise her hand.


THE END five stars

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another fun story in the Humprhey series by Betty G. Birney. I introduced my oldest to these books when I brought the first one home from England as a present. She has really taken to these books and I am so grateful, since she's read virtually nothing but fairy books for the last two years. We both read these books separately and then discuss the plots and themes. These books involve a class of third graders and the stories have a lot of moral lessons that are very age appropriate for children this age.

This story got a little weird with the introduction of aliens and the fear of being abducted by them. But overall, we see the children in the classroom solve their conflicts and work toward improving their behavior. And I love that the story shows Mr. Brisbane finding a vocation he loves and is good at. We enjoyed reading this story.

[Julianna S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humphrey is a classroom hamster that is everybody's favorite classroom pet and has a frog friend named Og. He has a cage that is locked to humans, but not to him. If he jiggles a little bit it opens up and he can slide down. When he's out he wanders around. There are lots of problems with the kids in the class because sometimes they forget things. I think it is awesome because when Humphrey goes home with a child he solves their problem.

[Brianna]

My second Humphrey book. Me lovez.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My younger daughter and I are enjoying going through this ADORABLE-ADORABLE-ADORABLE series. Humphrey is so CUTE-CUTE-CUTE and usually WISE-WISE-WISE. Humphrey thinking he was going to be abducted by aliens was a little out there for us - we still got lots and lots and lots of smiles and laughs, but this is probably our least favorite in the series so far. That said, however, I could see how some children might have this as their favorite book of the series seeing how absurd and goofy Humphrey was being with his thought process of the possibility of being captured by an alien and taken to the planet Spurling. I was thrilled to see how my daughter reacted to the incredibly sweet gesture of everyone honoring Mrs. Brisbane at the end of the series - especially the adorable song performed by her students. She was thrilled that I sang it to her :) I also loved how much she realized Humphrey was helping patients at the rehabilitation center. There are always so many wonderful life lessons along the way throughout Humphrey's adventures and surprises. Thank you for this great children's series!

[Sheri S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Humphrey series is a wholesome and entertaining collection of stories about a hamster, Humphrey, who teaches various lessons to "his" classmates. In Surprises According to Humphrey, Humphrey observes the behavior of the students in the classroom and encourages them to treat one another fairly and with respect. Mrs. Brisbane, Humphrey's "teacher", seems to be going through a reflective time after teaching for thirty years, and he "helps" her make a decision about whether she will continue to teach or retire. Aldo, the school's custodian, also plays a part in the story and it's always fun to read about the interactions between Humphrey and Aldo.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm kind of surprised that we're through book four and the story is still in the same school year with the same group of kids, but it works! My girls are getting very familiar with the kids in room 26 and still enjoy the familiarity of the stories. I even bought them little stuffed animal golden hamsters (birthday gift), which they named Humphrey and Hephaestus (Heffy) and took on our bike ride this morning, ha!

[Charisa Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kid liked it (of course). He really liked the song about Mrs Brisbane at the end nd the fake fire alarm. He would have changed having Mrs Wright getting upset at the students for taking Humphrey and Og outside during the fire drill. The themes he identifies were friendship, helping, and thankfullness.

[Kaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My eight-year-old son and I are really enjoying this series about Humphrey the classroom hamster and the dynamics of life in Room 26 at Longfellow School. The books have been consistently good so far, and this one is no exception.

[C.G.Koens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story, fun characters, the kids loved it (ages 6-11). Great read aloud book (or chapter books for mid-level readers). This is part of a great series that has been a good addition to our family library.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far this is my least favorite Humphrey book, having said that I still really enjoyed it and the end once again made me tear up a little. Betty Birney does and excellent job of teaching valuable lessons through her stories and this one was no different. It was a good read.

[Xydel · Rating 4 out of 5]

From an 11-year-old: This is written in the most adorable hamster's point of view. Humphrey is a scheming, smart, helpful, and playful little character. Surprises According to Humphrey has no bad language nor any bad influences, so it is a wonderful book for kids of all ages.

[Candace Donato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise Humphrey does it again! These books were loved by my daughter and so I introduced them to elementary kids in my First Chapters Club. Who can resist this special little hamster, the class pet of room 26?

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Humphrey series.the idea of jumping to co cousins that there’s an alien abduction is funny. Some important issues like conflicts of personalities and working through issues to maintain friends.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is another cute installment. Theres nothing really crazy cool to add to the story, but we're loving hanging out with Humphrey. Their teacher contemplates retiring, the janitor gets temporarily replaced, etc. Cute story!

[eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is amazing because it is very funny how Humphery thinks Aldo's niece is an alien that wants to take to a different planet!

[Shera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated by Drew

[Hannah Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humphrey the hamster is the best, and Mrs Brisbane too

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story and a fun addition to the series.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Humphrey book!

[sean richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamster Humphrey has such amazing adventures!🐹 GGGrreat for children 6+!😉

I have a hamster and it is just like him🐹 💖

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy read for my 3rd grader and I

[Susan ...relish every word!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students loved it...and I cried at the ending!!! Sooooooo good!!!

[Alexis Kaelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Humphrey!

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughters love all of these books! They are very funny and great to read aloud at bedtime every night.

[Jessica Cuthbertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henok is loving this series and the predictable characters are supportive for ELLs. Humphrey is a pretty cute narrator too :).