What reading level is Friendship according to Humphrey?

Friendship according to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney is at a Level 4 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Friendship according to Humphrey appropriate for?

Friendship according to Humphrey is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is Friendship according to Humphrey?

Friendship according to Humphrey is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Humphrey Adventures series.

Does Friendship according to Humphrey have any content warnings?

Friendship according to Humphrey has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Friendship according to Humphrey?

Friendship according to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney is 150 pages (approximately 31,831 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Friendship according to Humphrey

Betty G. Birney

Friendship according to Humphrey

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Betty G. Birney

Humphrey Adventures

Reading Level 4 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Humphrey the hamster is back in Mrs. Brisbane's classroom, where a new pet and unexpected events help him discover what true friendship really means. Join Humphrey as he navigates school life and learns valuable lessons about caring and kindness.

Themes

FriendshipSchoolsAnimalsHumor

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Friendship according to Humphrey 9C

Friendship according to Humphrey is written at a Level 4 reading level across 150 pages (approximately 31,831 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Friendship according to Humphrey works for readers up to grade 6.0.

Read aloud, Friendship according to Humphrey runs about 3.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Friendship according to Humphrey as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Friendship according to Humphrey explores friendship, schools, animals, and humor — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, schools, animals.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 9 more books in the Humphrey Adventures series.