Kate’s 2¢: “Adventure according to Humphrey”, “Summer according to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney

“Adventure according to Humphrey”, “Summer according to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   The younger children and students in grades 3 through 6 will be enthralled by Humphrey, the hamster, and all his adventures. This series of books I listened to were read by William Dufris, which made all the difference in the world. His character voices are priceless and bring the stories alive for the children.

From www.bettyGBirney:

About Me

I wrote my first “book” at age seven. It was called “Teddy Bear in the Woods” and was followed by a sequel. Luckily, my parents encouraged my writing and my sister, Janet, was a great writer and role model.

I didn’t just write, however. When I wasn’t roller-skating (my favorite pastime), I was riding my bike, playing piano, swimming, reading, playing cards and board games or just hanging out with my friends. I loved school, but I loved vacations, too!

Roller Skating

line

From kindergarten through graduation, I attended school in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Then I graduated from Webster College (now Webster University) in Webster Groves, Missouri. Of course, I majored in English and kept on writing.

After working in advertising in St. Louis, Missouri and in Chicago, Illinois, I eventually moved to Southern California. First, I worked for Disneyland (fun job!) in the advertising department. The monorail whizzed past my window all day long. Then I worked at the Disney Studio in Burbank, where I had another fun job, writing and producing television and radio commercials and theatrical trailers (previews of coming attractions) for everything from re-releases of “Cinderella” and “Fantasia” to “Tex.”

When the Disney Channel was started, I became a writer and story editor for WELCOME TO POOH CORNER. Since then, I’ve written more than 200 episodes of animated and live-action television programs including MADELINE, DOUG, BOBBY’S WORLD, DUMBO’S CIRCUS, THE PUZZLE PLACE, CAMP CANDY, LITTLE MOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, WHERE’S WALDO, FRAGGLE ROCK and ZOOBILEE ZOO. That’s right, I write cartoons! I also wrote a number of award-winning afterschool specials and many interactive CD-ROM programs, including the award-winning “Berenstain Bears on their Own,” “Richard Scarry’s Busiest Neighborhood Ever,” and “The Crayon Factory.”

A made-for-television family movie I wrote, MARY CHRISTMAS, starring John Schneider, Cynthia Gibb and Tom Bosley, aired on the PAX network in 2002. It was the highest rated movie in PAX history and has aired each Christmas season since then.

I have been fortunate enough to win a Writer’s Guild of America Award, three Humanitas Prizes (as well as two other nominations.) I also won a Daytime Emmy Award for MADELINE, and two other Emmy nominations, a Christopher Award and many children’s choice awards for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY. I’ve been inducted into the Affton (MO) School District Hall of Fame and received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at Webster University.

But my first love – going back to age seven – is writing books. Over the years, I’ve written more than 35 children’s books, many of them on Disney themes.

on my desk

Some people find it strange that I’ve worked in so many mediums but to me, a story is a story and I am a story-teller. Some stories are better told in a small flap book. Others belong on the big screen. Once I get “inside the story,” it doesn’t matter whether I’m telling the story of a honey-loving bear or a confused teenager; the process of creating characters and plots is really the same and never boring.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an actress, as well as a writer. While I later changed my mind, I ended up marrying an actor, FRANK BIRNEY. Through the years, I have watched him play everything from a tango-dancing butler to a presidential cabinet member. Once he even played a children’s book writer! For six seasons, he played Judge Warren West on the ABC show, THE PRACTICE and he portrayed Judge William Howe in several episodes of BOSTON LEGAL. He’s also been in recent shows like Grimm, Arrested Development, The Mick, Silicon Valley, Room 104, Animal Kingdom … and on and on. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including Tostitos, VitaminWater, IBM, Adobe Systems and more!. I have two wonderful stepdaughters, Rebecca Frank and Anna Ross, who are both talented artists, graphic designers and businesswomen, and a terrific son, Walshe, who lives on the East Coast and is married to the lovely Caroline. His world revolves around cheese and charcuterie. Then there’s the youngest member of the family, now thirteen years old, Remy, daughter of Rebecca and her husband, Gary. Anna and her husband Tobias live in Minneapolis – and Anna does this website for me!

© 2003 – 2022 Betty Birney

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Adventure according to Humphrey DBC17766

Birney, Betty G. Reading time: 2 hours, 56 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Growing Up

School Fiction

Animals and Wildlife

Humphrey the classroom hamster has adventures going to the library, learning about the ocean, and sailing across a pond on a sailboat. Unrated. Commercial Audiobook For grades 3-6. Unrated.

Downloaded: July 14, 2022

Download Adventure according to Humphrey

Summer according to Humphrey DBC17767

Birney, Betty G. Reading time: 3 hours, 56 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Growing Up

School Fiction

Animals and Wildlife

When summer arrives, Humphrey, the pet hamster of Longfellow School’s Room 26, is surprised and pleased to learn that he will be going to Camp Happy Hollow. Unrated. Commercial Audiobook For grades 3-6. Unrated.

Downloaded: July 14, 2022

Download Summer according to Humphrey