Tag: hamster • BookLikes

review 2022-10-05 04:14

THE HAMSTER THAT LIVES IN MY CLOSET by Annie Suther

The Hamster that Lives in My Closet (Waffles Chronicles) - Annie Suther

Waffles, the hamster, lives in his owner's closet because her parents said she had to get rid of him. She imagines what he does all day in there. This is a cute story for your little one. I liked the little girl's imagination of what Waffles does all day. I wish this were longer. The illustrations are adorable.

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review 2017-04-19 20:41

Book 18/100: Of Mice & Magic by Ursula Vernon

A Reading Vocation

Hamster Princess: Of Mice and Magic - Ursula Vernon

Just as much fun as Harriet the Invincible.

I recently re-read the 12 Dancing Princess (which this story retells), and was struck by how, even though the story is named for the titular women, all of whom presumably have their own lives, the story really revolves around the guy who creeps on them trying to figure out where they go at night. The story is about him, not the cursed princesses.

In Vernon's version, Harriet stands in for the gardener who saves the day -- so while she still takes center stage, at least a story ostensibly about 12 women doesn't inadvertently end up being about one man. Also, the princesses in the story are given some real "page-time" and personalities and desires of their own, all of which are improvements over the original. Prose is funny and smart and artwork is charming.

Fairy Tales middle grade Graphic Novel retellings

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review 2017-04-19 20:35

Book 17/100: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon

A Reading Vocation

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible - Ursula Vernon

This book was super fun -- a retelling of Sleeping Beauty featuring a sturdy, sassy princess who figures out how to use the curse to her advantage. It's funny and subversive without being heavy-handed, equally suited to be enjoyed by kids or adults. I love that Harriet acts like a REAL 12-year-old (even if she is a hamster :)), and of course, the artwork is exuberant and expressive. Will definitely keep reading this series, and would recommend them as read-alouds, too.

Fairy Tales middle grade Graphic Novel retellings

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review 2016-10-14 17:18

Time Traveling With A Hamster by Ross Welford

Jessica (HDB)

Time Traveling with a Hamster - Ross Welford

Okay, color me impressed! You've heard me praise the wonders of Middle Grade fiction and its wonderful authors many a time, and yet it never fails to stun me how much goodness comes out of the books written for this age group. Ross Welford has penned a gem here. Time Traveling With A Hamster simultaneously pulls together the importance of family, the grey areas we face when making hard decisions, the beauty (and issues) associated with being passionate about something, and even owning up to ones own mistakes. I am so thrilled to have read this, and can't recommend it enough!

Now, let me put out there that there are actually a fair amount of high end concepts in this book. As a reader who believes fully in not talking down to young readers, I was smitten with this. Al Chadhury's father was a brilliant man. One who wasn't afraid to dabble in science and theory, ultimately leading to his discovery of time travel. Through Al's travels in time, and the letters his father left behind, he learns so much about everything his dad was passionate about. There are brilliant descriptions of the theory of relativity, and examples that actually make it palatable for young minds. There's even discussions of memory devices. Suffice it to say, I was blown away by the sheer amount of lessons in here.

Better still, none of those lessons seemed to slow down the overall pace of the story. I admit that it took a few chapters to really get going, as some books do, but once I was immersed that was it. Al's quest to save his dad flew by. His brushes with danger, his quick thinking to get out of hairy situations, his realizations that he might not be as clever as the thought he was, all of it just blurred together into this gorgeous story that wouldn't let me go. The ending is perfection, especially for an MG read, and I couldn't have been happier.

Long story short? This is a must have for reading lists of all ages, but specifically I think this would be a wonderful book to share as a family. There are just so many good ideas caught up in here, I feel like it would be an amazing read to share between parents and their children. Ross Welford has written the type of story that transcends age groups, and that's no easy feat! Add this to your reading list. You won't regret it.

middle grade ross welford

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review 2016-10-12 20:23

Hamster Princess

Reading in the Wild — feeling happy

Good Afternoon,

Many of my younger readers are loving reading the increasingly popular graphic novels. These books draw our readers in for a variety of reasons, including the wonderfully drawn pictures that give amazing detail to the story.

This year there are two graphic novels on the Bluebonnet nominee list, one is Hamster Princess. In this story readers will meet a princess that breaks all the molds.

Harriet is a young hamster who happens to be the daughter of the king and queen, but she is definitely not interested in doing anything remotely princess-like.

When she discovers that she has been cursed at birth, similarly to Sleeping Beauty, she finds out that the curse keeps her from dying or getting seriously injured. To Harriet this is amazing news! This means that she can go off and have as many adventures as she wants!

Readers who enjoy fantasy and adventure will enjoy following Harriet on her many adventures as well as seeing what happens in her face-off with the evil witch!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Emory