Review by Booklist Review
In this fourth title featuring classroom hamster Humphrey, the surprises abound. Some are fun, such as the entertaining, if occasionally scary, new hamster ball, and some are not: best friends A. J. and Garth are feuding; janitor Aldo may have been replaced by an alien; and the teacher, Ms. Brisbane, may retire. Narrated in Humphrey's lively voice, the story is characteristically amusing and incorporates kid-relevant issues, such as being the last chosen for sports teams and the importance of respect, support, kindness, and appreciation. New and returning readers will enjoy the caring hamster's unique perspective on everything from friendship to fire drills.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Series new and old compete for readers' attention. Betty G. Birney's charismatic classroom hamster is back in Surprises According to Humphrey, his fourth and possibly last adventure in Room 26. (Putnam, $14.99 192p ages 7-up ISBN 9780-399-24730-9; Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Classroom pet extraordinaire Humphrey, a golden hamster, returns in his fourth novel. Spring has arrived, and Mrs. Brisbane's students are preparing for some important tests. Humphrey learns with them as they work on math problems and vocabulary words, which he records in his tiny notebook. He also engages in adventures like coming face-to-face with a cat named Sweetums, motivating senior citizens at a rehab center, and wandering the empty halls of school at night. Furthermore, Mrs. Wright, the whistle-blowing, rule-enforcing P.E. teacher, is out to get him, and he worries that Mrs. Brisbane will decide to retire. With his usual flare, Humphrey plots to help his humans overcome their problems. Each chapter ends with a definition from his Dictionary of Wonderful Words. Humphrey is a witty, fun, and lovable character with great kid appeal. This tale can be read independently of the previous novels.-Alison Grant, Ruby S. Thomas Elementary School, Las Vegas, NV (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Humphrey, Room 26's pet hamster, is worried. He's afraid that Mrs. Brisbane is going to retire and he also thinks janitor Aldo has been abducted by aliens. Throughout the story, Humphrey helps a few students solve interpersonal problems. Though this entry isn't substantially different from previous adventures, the protagonist's geniality and sincerity make it a good classroom read-aloud. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
