Hammy and Gerbee: Mummies at the Museum

by Wong Herbert Yee, Wong Herbert Yee (Illustrator)

Overview

A charming young graphic novel-hybrid starring best friends Hammy and Gerbee. Bonus: science and history facts on Egypt!

Things are looking up for best friends Hammy and Gerbee—a hamster and a gerbil—when they find out they’re both in Miss Capybara’s class. But it’s not long before school becomes a battle between the good (Hammy and Gerbee), the bad (spelling bees and pop quizzes), and the evil (mice twins Anna and Hanna). Can things get any worse? Or mischievous? Yep! They’re going on a field trip to the science museum. What are two rodent friends to do but find their own fun (and trouble)?

This is a terrific stepping stone for kids who are excited about graphic novels but not yet ready to tackle longer formats.

Christy Ottaviano Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627794626
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	01/16/2018
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Wong Herbert Yee has written and illustrated many stories for children, including the seasonal quartet: Tracks in the Snow, Who Likes Rain?, Summer Days and Nights and My Autumn Book. He lives with his family in Troy, Michigan.

Editorial Reviews

10/23/2017
In this first book in the Hammy and Gerbee series, schoolmates Hammy the hamster and Gerbee the gerbil pursue a gleeful rivalry with Anna and Hanna, twin girl mice in their elementary school class. The girls know the right answers; the boys, not so much. In this comic’s early chapters, the four pupils settle in with their new teacher, Miss Capybara. Yee’s loose, scribbly line makes for adorable figures; Miss Cap’s whipped-cream hairdo and cat’s-eye glasses are particularly fetching. Victory and defeat are evenly distributed: Hammy and Gerbee fail to beat the twins at spelling (“B-A-N-A-N-N-A”) but succeed in using reverse psychology to get Anna to choose to the science museum for their field trip (“I sure hope Anna picks the art museum!”). The fast-paced later chapters see the class arrive at a mummy exhibition to view the tomb of Ratakomen. The enticing similarity between toilet paper and mummy wrap gives the boys an idea, but instead of disgracing themselves, they foil a crime. This is relaxed, congenial entertainment: Hammy and Gerbee are after easy laughs, and fans of broad humor will be satisfied. Ages 6–9. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Cuddly characters will certainly catch the eyes of fans of Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm's Babymouse or Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series. This is a guffaw-generating romp that should not gather any dust on the shelf. A sparkling series opener certain to captivate a broad audience."—Kirkus Reviews

"Yee’s loose, scribbly line makes for adorable figures; Miss Cap’s whipped-cream hairdo and cat’s-eye glasses are particularly fetching. . . congenial entertainment . . . and fans of broad humor will be satisfied."—Publishers Weekly

"The bordering-on-irreverent fun will be right up the alley of his targeted age group, and the simple, friendly figures that fill out the inventively composed comic pages will draw them right in. An excellent balance between Yee’s own early reader sensibilities and the zany highjinks of Jennifer and Matthew Holm’s Babymouse."—Booklist

"Fans of Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s “Lunch Lady,” Drew Brockington’s “CatStronauts,” and Ashley Spires’s “Binky” will enjoy the animal antics and look forward to future installments in the series. A funny stepping stone for newer comics readers and a welcome addition to all children’s comics collections."—School Library Journal

"The book’s nine short, fast-paced sections will keep new readers engaged; and with easy-to-follow sequences . . . it may draw reluctant readers into the fold. Babymouse fans may find enjoyment here."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

01/01/2018
Gr 2–5—Like the best dynamic duos, Hammy and Gerbee share many things: both are rodents, both have Miss Capybara as their teacher, and neither can stand their twin classmates, Anna and Hanna. When Miss Capybara hosts a spelling test and Anna bests Hammy, Anna gets to decide the class's surprise field trip. In a masterstroke, Hammy and Gerbee trick her into choosing the science museum. The pair's penchant for tomfoolery pervades the panels—resulting in a lot of self-congratulatory fist bumps and more than a few hairy situations. Yee, known mostly for picture books and early readers, uses spare panels and plenty of white space to create an early graphic novel that's a great introduction to those new to the format. Sections are divided into nine short chapters. Characters speak about the author and literally leave the panels to escape danger, adding a meta-fictive flourish to the humor. From Rodentia to Ratakomen, rodent-related puns riddle the text. Back matter includes some facts about Egypt that add context to the story. The book is only two colors (blue and white), which may deter die-hard color comics devotees, but those who take a chance on this title will be pleased indeed. Fans of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's "Lunch Lady," Drew Brockington's "CatStronauts," and Ashley Spires's "Binky" will enjoy the animal antics and look forward to future installments in the series. VERDICT A funny stepping stone for newer comics readers and a welcome addition to all children's comics collections.—Alec Chunn, Eugene Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

2017-10-16
Rodent high jinks reign supreme as two BFFs make museum mischief in this giggleworthy graphic novel.Adorable rodents Hammy and Gerbee are best buds who spend their days fist bumping, cracking jokes, and pulling pranks. They are thrilled to learn that they are both in the same class with the new teacher, Miss Capybara, but then they discover that Hanna and Anna—twin mice known as Double Trouble—will also be in their class. When the class must vote whether to visit the art or the science museum, Hammy and Gerbee use reverse psychology to induce the twins to choose in their favor. Once at the science museum, the pair can't help but pull a prank on the twins but are quite surprised when their plans go uproariously awry and they unwittingly foil a robbery! Cuddly characters portrayed using a pleasing two-color scheme and oversized, free-form panels will certainly catch the eyes of fans of Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm's Babymouse or Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series. Yee's text is widely accessible but far from simplistic; puns and wordplay abound. When the adventure concludes, "fun facts" about Egypt are presented; although the idea seems well-intentioned, the facts are terse and rudimentary, only relating to the concluding narrative thread. This quibble aside, this is an otherwise guffaw-generating romp that should not gather any dust on the shelf. A sparkling series opener certain to captivate a broad audience. (Graphic fiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews