Book Report: ADVENTURE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY

This book is called ‘ADVENTURE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY’, written by Betty.G. Birney. Humphrey is a hamster who goes on many different adventures.(You can see the two other reports on my blog). Humphrey is a class pet who is adored by all the kids. Mrs. Brisbane (the teacher of that class) talks about a project in which the students have to create a ship and in the end, there is a race. A trip to the library is needed in order to collect information for building the ships. Humphrey is intrigued by the number of books in the library and starts to sneak into the library late at night. Every night, a video plays when he accidentally taps a button on a remote. Humphrey has many things to worry about everyday such as problems between classmates and family. For example: Kirk and Richie (two classmates) get into a fight in which Kirk gets left out and decides to take revenge. He builds his own ship at home and uses that for the race to show Richie what he is capable of. Later, Humphrey finds a family problem and tries to solve it; Gail and her partner (two other students) have many different ideas. While Gail wants a plain flag on her ship, her partner is against her and Gail’s mum is unfortunately supporting Gail’s partner! When at night Humphrey meets up with his old pal, Aldo the cleaner, Aldo starts acting and speaking like a pirate. Humphrey worries that Aldo might actually turn into one and his spine shivers. On the day of the race, Humphrey tries to stop Kirk from destroying Richie’s boat by going aboard Richie’s boat. But, the damage is done but Humphrey finds a way to save himself. In the end, Gail’s idea is finally used on Gail’s ship. Kirk and Richie apologise for being so competitive and in doing so, get together again. Ahoy! Me hearties. What was that? Then, it hits Humphrey why Aldo was acting like a pirate; to practice for entertaining the parents and children at the race! In the end, all is resolved happily and Humphrey once again, saves the class!

What I like about this book:

• On his way to help and save his friends, Humphrey makes new ones and treasures them. This is one thing that I really like because I feel that a friend is like a precious gem that all of us should treasure. However, not all of us do (including me). He dedicates himself to helping people even when he might get hurt doing so e.g. by going on Richie’s ship when water is bad for his fur.
• All of his friends represent an event in Humphrey’ life or someone who Humphrey has helped. For example, Aldo is someone who Humphrey is very close to and helps him again and again with big decisions and Og the Frog marks the time when Humphrey got over his jealousy and made friends with even the most odd creature.
• All of Humphrey’s books are funny but also have a lesson or meaning to them that all of us should use in life. There are two very good lessons in this book. The first one is not to be over confident and competitive as Kirk and Richie both were when they were building their ship. The second one is to be welcoming and to not be disparaging.
• A feeling of deja vu came over me when I read the part about Aldo acting like a pirate and Humphrey felt scared. Some friends I had have recently changed their ways and are just a bit more mature and have their own ways. I guess it’s all about growing up- I can notice changes in myself too.
• Finally.. Fun time! Read the book and answer these questions:

1.    What is the name of Gail’s partner?

2.   What is the name of the librarian?

3.   Which book does Mrs. Brisbane read to the class?

4.   Who hosts the field trip to the pond?

5.   What is the pond called?

6.   How does Kirk control his submarine?

7.   How does Humphrey save himself?

8.   How many parents become pirates for the field trip? Who are they?

Although the book is really good, I do think a few twists and turns in the story would engage the reader even more and overall, would make the book very interesting.

I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK A 9 OUT OF 10 RATING!

FIND OUT WHAT I MEAN BY READING ADVENTURE ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON AMAZON FOR $5.99!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON GUARDIAN BOOKSHOP FOR £4.79!

Book Report: FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY!

This book is called ‘FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY’ written by Betty G. Birney (This is the sequel to  The World According To Humphrey). It is about a little hamster named Humphrey who is a class pet. He is a really special class pet because he can read and write and works on the activities with the class. How cool! Then, after the summer break, a new classroom pet moves in and he is: Og the frog. At first, Humphrey feels jealous and thinks that Og is his replacement. Then, he starts to open up and tries to become friends with this new classroom pet. Humphrey is still the luckier one, because, he get’s to go home with the class kids and has many adventures in their houses. My favourite adventure was when Humphrey was going home with Richie (a classmate) on the bus and a mean boy bullies Richie. Humphrey cannot stand this rudeness so he tackles Mean Martin and bites him on his leg. Ow! Also when Humphrey helps the cleaner (Aldo): Aldo’s big inspiration was Humphrey when he applies for University again and he  shares with the class about the world in Humphrey’s eyes and the way he looked at it. All of a sudden, a snowstorm starts and Og and Humphrey are abandoned in the classroom for the whole of Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday! Humphrey talks to Og and figures out that Og actually means well but can’t express it. When Humphrey needed to eat his Nutri-Nibbles, he gets stuck under the packet and Og saves Humphrey from suffocating. Mrs. Brisbane (the teacher of that class) and the principal enter on Tuesday and take the two pets home. Og plays with Humphrey and Humphrey writes a poem for Og about friendship. After all, friendship isn’t about who you’ve known the longest, it’s about who walks into your life and proves that they are there for you.

What I like about the book:

• At the end of each chapter, there was a little quote by famous people about friendship and that was really interesting to read. My favourite quote was : "The better part of one's life consists of his friendships..." by Abraham Lincoln.
• The way Betty G. Birney makes the reader feel as if a hamster was writing and not a person.
• Humphrey rhymes : they are incredible! The students came up with great poems but I think Humphrey’s was the best. Specially the way he talks about friendship and the necessities of a true friend. The language in the poem was so touching that I am also using that in my own life now.
• At the end of the book, there is Humphrey’s guide to Friendship and how to be a good friend. He also talks about what the attitude you need to produce is.
• As Humphrey writes, he not only talks about friendship and it’s importance but through his writing, he proves that any sort of animal is very special and unique in their own way. The message that comes through to me other than that ‘friendship is important’ is: Embrace anything that an animal (or person) has. Don’t shrug people off or tell them that they are useless or mean or shy and not open. Experience their actual self before you gossip and embrace their ups and downs and goods and bads, together.

I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK A 9 OUT OF 10 RATING!

FIND OUT WHAT I MEAN BY READING FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON AMAZON FOR $5.99!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON GUARDIAN BOOKSHOP FOR £4.79!