12th April World Hamster Day

Gerbils and hamsters are classified as exotic rodents and

Gerbils and hamsters are classified as exotic rodents and they are not allowed in Australia because they are a threat to the local ecosystem. That is, if they were to escape into the wild, they may start breeding and threaten native flora and fauna. The only way an Australian child will experience hamsters, is if they are overseas or read about them in a book. I tell the students that they are very similar to guinea pigs which they have experienced as pets.

Picture books:

• Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race  by Kim Hillyard

• Stanley  series by William Bee

• Hamster Heroes  by Peter gently and John Bond

• Ferocious Fluffy  by Erica S. Perl and Henry Cole

• The Great Hamster Getaway  by Lou Carter and Magda Brol

Most of the hamster books in our library are humorous chapter books. Look for:

• Stinky and Jinks series by Dave Lowe (6 books)

• Hampstead the Hamster by Michael Rosen

• Super Turbo series by Lee Kirby

• Return of the Hungry Hamster (Undead Pets series) by Sam Hay

• Lulu and the Hamster in the Night by Hilary McKay

• The World According to Humphrey  series by Betty Birney (12 books)

• Humphrey's Tiny Tales series by Betty Birney (8 books)

• Pigsticks and Harold  series by Alex Milway (4 books)

• The Hamster Rescue (Invincibles series)by Caryl Hart

• The Magic Hamster (Wigglesbottom Primary series) by Pamela Butchart

• Marv and the Humungous Hamster (Marv  series) by Alex Falase-Koya

Still need more? See here.

16th July Guinea Pig Appreciation Day

Guinea pigs are a species of rodents that are adopted as pets due to their domesticated nature and cute appearance. However, guinea pigs were not always kept in homes — they were originally seen as livestock and their meat was consumed by people. Said to have originated from the Andes mountains of Peru, the animals were initially wild and had to be trained. 

They are certainly a popular pet at school and because of this they are also a popular topic to read about. Luckily many authors have recognised this fact and have written a series of novels which have them as main characters. We all know Michael Bond's Olga and Betty Birney's Humphrey, but there are others.

Do you know Charlotte Middleton's Christopher Nibble? (picture books)

Ali Pye's Harry Stephenson?

Colleen Venable's, Guinea Pig Private Eye,Sasspants?

Jennifer Gray's Fuzzy and Coco from Guinea Pigs Online ?

Pip Jones' Piggy Handsome?

These are series for your die-hard guinea pig fans. Of course there are other stand alone picture books, novels and nonfiction. See here.

Hamsters have a celebration of their own on 12th April, but I often do combined displays, as we do not have hamsters in Australia. Stinky and Jinks, Pigsticks and Harold and Super Turbo are hamster series that students enjoy.

16th July Guinea Pig Appreciation Day

Guinea Pig Appreciation Day only started last year, but it would be a huge hit in my library as the young children I teach love guinea pigs and I am constantly asked for guinea pig stories. Fortunately we have a large number and some of them are series so they can 'get hooked' and keep reading. Humphrey's Tiny Tales by Betty G Birney have been popular and the graphic novel series Guinea Pig Pet Shop Private Eye by Colleen A F Venable has a large following too. We used to have a wonderful Folkmanis guinea pig puppet too, but sadly he was borrowed, never to return. I do know he is probably well-loved! The display does work without accompanying toy or puppets.