There are 12 books in the series and they are aimed at children in the age range of six to nine years old that are just starting to tackle their first chapter-based reading books.
There are no pictures in the books as they are novels aimed at young readers.
The Humphrey books are written by Betty B. Birney.
She was an English teacher before she started to work with Disney and she wrote several picture books for Disney while at the company.
As well as the main Humphrey series, she has written several spinoffs in the same universe, including several about Humphrey’s friend, Og the Frog.
About Humphrey
Humphrey is a Siberian hamster that is the class pet of Room 26, a classroom in an elementary school.
From the bars of his cage, Humphrey observes the students in the class and quickly learns to read and write and how to solve problems.
Every weekend Humphrey gets to go home with a student and he is able to have many adventures out of his cage thanks to the broken lock on his cage.
The books are all written from Humphrey’s point of view and feature the hamster’s unique perspective of the world.
He gives every student a descriptive nickname and tries his best to help them solve their problems.
To begin with, Humphrey has an antagonistic relationship with the Room 26 teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, and he struggles to make friends with the new class pet, Og the Frog.
Birney uses Humphrey as a way to introduce many important lessons and themes to her young readers.
Friendship is a frequent theme, as is exploration, learning, and imagination.
Each book puts Humphrey in a new situation and sees him resolve a problem while also helping readers understand a new concept.
The students in Room 26 begin thinking about their dream destinations and Humphrey’s imagination starts to run wild when Mrs. Brisbane reads stories of dragons.
With Humphrey’s imagination sparked, he starts thinking of ways to entertain his friends but gets a little carried away at times.
Family Fun Night is just around the corner and the involvement of the student’s families makes Humphrey wonder about his own.
Pros
Helps children understand family
Well-written for children
Cons
Less of a plot than in some other books
Final Thoughts
The Humphrey books are a cute series about a pet hamster in an elementary school.
All of the books are written from the perspective of Humphrey and show the world through his eyes as he observes the students in the classroom.
The lock on Humphrey’s cage is broken and this allows Humphrey to freely roam and have many adventures, such as trying to befriend Og the Frog and sailing away in a little boat.
Humphrey can also read and write and he works hard to solve the problems of his friends in the class.
All of the books are written as novels and don’t have any pictures.
They’re intended to be a young child’s first introduction to chapter-based books and introduce many new vocabulary words.
Each book has themes that are relatable to young children and will help them learn valuable lessons.
There is no questionable content in these books either, making them suitable for children of all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finally, let’s answer a few commonly asked questions about the Humphrey series of books.
Do You Have To Read The Books In Order?
Although it is best to read in order, many of the Humphrey books can be read out of order. They have brief recaps at the start of each book to introduce characters.
What Is The Recommended Reading Age?
The Humphrey books are recommended for children between the ages of six to nine years old. This will depend on your child’s reading level.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
