What do you think Buster should do when his hamster gets so big?

This is a discussion prompt for Day of the Hamster by Philip Reeve. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

Have you ever done something curious that led to unexpected results?

This is a discussion prompt for Day of the Hamster by Philip Reeve. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

What makes something funny in a story like this?

This is a discussion prompt for Day of the Hamster by Philip Reeve. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

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Day of the Hamster

Name: Day of the Hamster
ISBN: 9780439979504

by Philip Reeve

When Buster Bayliss accidentally feeds his hamster strange gloop, it grows to the size of a house! A hilarious, high-stakes adventure for young readers.

About This Book

Hamsters-small, cute and cuddly...Except when you feed them weird brown gloopy stuff and they're cute, cuddly and the size of a house. Buster Bayliss is in really big trouble...

Concepts

Fear & Bravery Resilience & Perseverance Curiosity & Wonder Teamwork & Collaboration Growing Up Being Different Animals Monsters

Heads up, parents

peril_danger

Scary Scenes

Wonderlit Review

Philip Reeve's 'Day of the Hamster' is a delightfully absurd chapter book perfect for young readers who enjoy a good laugh. The story follows Buster Bayliss, whose seemingly innocent act of feeding his hamster some 'weird brown gloopy stuff' leads to hilariously oversized consequences. The book handles the escalating chaos with a light, humorous touch, focusing on Buster's attempts to manage his now house-sized pet. The emotional arc is one of comedic panic turning into resourceful problem-solving. This book is ideal for children aged 6-9 who love silly animal stories and unexpected twists. A parent might reach for this when their child needs a quick, engaging read that promises pure entertainment and a good giggle. There are no truly sensitive topics, just light peril played for laughs. Younger readers (4-5) will enjoy it as a read-aloud, while older elementary kids can tackle it independently.