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Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates

Author Cheryl Klein
Illustrated by Abhi Alwar
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Dial Books
10.38"W x 10.25"H x 0.38"D  
On sale Nov 02, 2021 | 40 Pages | 9780593324233
Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Lexile AD350L | Fountas & Pinnell L
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Two hamster roommates with wildly different personalities crammed in one cage--what could go wrong in this hilarious story about introverts versus extroverts?

It's been two hundred and five days since Henry has had peace. That's because it's been two hundred and five days since Marvin has come to live with him. Marvin, who loves to talk in the tunnels, talk while they're eating, talk while they're running. Marvin, who drives Henry up the cage walls. But when Henry finally loses his cool and gets exactly what he wanted, both hamsters have to figure out a way to live together and work through their communication mishaps.
Cheryl B. Klein is the editorial director at Lee & Low Books. She was formerly the executive editor at Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Inc., where she edited a wide array of popular and award-winning titles. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. View titles by Cheryl Klein
Abhi Alwar is the illustrator of Megan Wagner Lloyd's Super Pancake, as well as Cheryl Klein's picture book, Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates. Publishers Weekly praised the latter in a starred review, noting "readers should get a tickle out of [Alwar's] compositions." Abhi aims to tell absurd and silly stories through comics and picture books. She lives in NYC. View titles by Abhi Alwar
★ "Funny, cleverly building dialogue by Klein . . . Debut illustrator Alwar creates two highly and equally expressive rodent protagonists . . . readers should get a tickle out of how the freewheeling digital compositions open up the tiny world of the hamster cage in unexpected ways." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Klein’s pithy storytelling both thoughtfully conveys the introvert-extrovert divide and gently teaches the art of apology. Alwar’s watercolor-textured digital illustrations are funny, expressive, and emotive, with a combination of spot and spread illustrations moving the story along . . . Whether for hamsters or humans, a lighthearted how-to guide to being a good roommate." —Kirkus

"The story’s respect for Henry’s preference for solitude makes this book particularly refreshing; it focuses not on self-sacrifice but on boundaries and how guidelines for time spent together can make a relationship more meaningful . . . a gentle but humorous primer to youngsters on exercising their own agency and respecting that of others." —BCCB

"With a palette that dynamically carries scenes from serene to anger-infused, the illustrations cue preschoolers into the underlying emotions behind the roommates’ misunderstanding. It’s funny, sincere, and teachable . . . Hamsters may make terrible roommates, but Klein and Alwar give beginning readers the path to harmony through honest conversation and admitting wrongdoing." —SLJ

About

Two hamster roommates with wildly different personalities crammed in one cage--what could go wrong in this hilarious story about introverts versus extroverts?

It's been two hundred and five days since Henry has had peace. That's because it's been two hundred and five days since Marvin has come to live with him. Marvin, who loves to talk in the tunnels, talk while they're eating, talk while they're running. Marvin, who drives Henry up the cage walls. But when Henry finally loses his cool and gets exactly what he wanted, both hamsters have to figure out a way to live together and work through their communication mishaps.

Author

Cheryl B. Klein is the editorial director at Lee & Low Books. She was formerly the executive editor at Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Inc., where she edited a wide array of popular and award-winning titles. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. View titles by Cheryl Klein
Abhi Alwar is the illustrator of Megan Wagner Lloyd's Super Pancake, as well as Cheryl Klein's picture book, Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates. Publishers Weekly praised the latter in a starred review, noting "readers should get a tickle out of [Alwar's] compositions." Abhi aims to tell absurd and silly stories through comics and picture books. She lives in NYC. View titles by Abhi Alwar

Praise

★ "Funny, cleverly building dialogue by Klein . . . Debut illustrator Alwar creates two highly and equally expressive rodent protagonists . . . readers should get a tickle out of how the freewheeling digital compositions open up the tiny world of the hamster cage in unexpected ways." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Klein’s pithy storytelling both thoughtfully conveys the introvert-extrovert divide and gently teaches the art of apology. Alwar’s watercolor-textured digital illustrations are funny, expressive, and emotive, with a combination of spot and spread illustrations moving the story along . . . Whether for hamsters or humans, a lighthearted how-to guide to being a good roommate." —Kirkus

"The story’s respect for Henry’s preference for solitude makes this book particularly refreshing; it focuses not on self-sacrifice but on boundaries and how guidelines for time spent together can make a relationship more meaningful . . . a gentle but humorous primer to youngsters on exercising their own agency and respecting that of others." —BCCB

"With a palette that dynamically carries scenes from serene to anger-infused, the illustrations cue preschoolers into the underlying emotions behind the roommates’ misunderstanding. It’s funny, sincere, and teachable . . . Hamsters may make terrible roommates, but Klein and Alwar give beginning readers the path to harmony through honest conversation and admitting wrongdoing." —SLJ

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