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Revision as of 12:28, 15 February 2011
, 12:28, 15 February 2011Created page with ' {{infobox |title=My Pet Show Panic! (Humphrey's Tiny Tales) |author=Betty G Birney |reviewer=Keith Dudhnath |genre=Confident Readers |summary= |rating=3.5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |…'
{{infobox
|title=My Pet Show Panic! (Humphrey's Tiny Tales)
|author=Betty G Birney
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=
|rating=3.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0571246328
|paperback=057124632X
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=112
|publisher=Faber and Faber
|date=March 2011
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057124632X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>057124632X</amazonus>
|website=http://www.funwithhumphrey.com
|video=
}}
Humphrey is the classroom hamster of room 26 of Longfellow School. He's good friends with Og the frog, as well as the pupils at the school. We've met Humphrey [[Holidays According to Humphrey by Betty G Birney|lots]] [[Humphrey's Great-Great-Great Book of Stories by Betty G Birney|of times]] [[School According to Humphrey by Betty G Birney|before]] and thoroughly enjoyed his adventures every time. This time round, we're treated to a new series of tiny tales, for newly confident readers. Our first small adventure with Humphrey sees him being entered into a pet show, and trying not to fall foul of Clem, the big, yappy dog.
We've previously described the Humphrey books as ''cute but not cloying'' and that's a perfect shortcut to just what they're about. The warm heart, gentle narrative and accessible characters will strike a chord with young boys and girls alike. There's an active plot to keep things ticking over nicely, but there's still plenty of time to take in the atmosphere and appreciate the characters - even in a shorter book like ''My Pet Show Panic!'' Whether it's your first or tenth experience of Humphrey and chums, everyone will feel like an old friend.
The writing is smartly pitched at its young audience. It's clear and direct, so that children just moving into sharing chapter-a-night books will be able to follow it. At the same time, the vocabulary is punchy and engaging, to entice and amuse slightly older children. I particularly enjoyed hearing Humphrey speak. His repetitions of ''GOOD-GOOD-GOOD'', ''BIG-BIG-BIG'' and ''NOISY-NOISY-NOISY'' are simple touches, but they give him his own voice, and also show children that language is something to be played with.
There's a large selection of wordsearches, puzzles and jokes after the story. These showcase [http://www.funwithhumphrey.com Humphrey's website], as well as related puzzle and joke books. The offerings are substantial enough to feel like genuine extras, rather than simply adverts, and they will go down well with the readers.
It's always risky when a popular series branches out to a different age range, but ''My Pet Show Panic!'' ticks all the right boxes - it stays true to the originals, whilst pitching appropriately to its new audience. It's warmly recommended.
My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.
If rodents are your thing, you'll enjoy [[The Clumsies Make A Mess of the Big Show by Sorrel Anderson]]. For more animal-based fun, check out the excellent [[The Great Cat Conspiracy by Katie Davies and Hannah Shaw]]. Although not thematically similar, [[Iggy and Me On Holiday by Jenny Valentine]] is similarly cute but not cloying, and much-loved here at Bookbag.
{{amazontext|amazon=057124632X}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=7922807}}
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