What reading level is School days according to Humphrey?

School days according to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 640L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is School days according to Humphrey appropriate for?

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

What genre is School days according to Humphrey?

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

Does School days according to Humphrey have any content warnings?

School days 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 School days according to Humphrey?

School days according to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney is 151 pages (approximately 31,669 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

School days according to Humphrey

Betty G. Birney

School days according to Humphrey

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Betty G. Birney

Humphrey Adventures

Reading Level 4-5 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 surprised when new faces appear in Mrs. Brisbane's classroom as summer ends. Curious and caring, he discovers his old friends are safe and quickly sets out to support the new students, making school a welcoming place for everyone. Join Humphrey as he navigates the excitement and challenges of a fresh school year.

Themes

FriendshipSchool LifeHelping OthersAnimals

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated School days according to Humphrey 9C

School days according to Humphrey is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 640L across 151 pages (approximately 31,669 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, School days according to Humphrey works for readers up to grade 6.1.

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

We rate School days 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, School days according to Humphrey explores friendship, school life, helping others, and animals — 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, school life, helping others.
✓ 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.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.