A Review of Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble by Ursula Vernon, A Book Giveaway, & Make Your Own Stuffed Harpster!
We were lucky to have the opportunity to review this 4th book in the Hamster Princess series. Everyone in the family absolutely loved the book
And who is Harpster? Well you either have to read the book, or look down the page and download the Sewing Pattern so you can make a stuffed Harpster for your child (or maybe for yourself!)
Here are some things my children had to say about the story:
The Story is Amazing!
It was So Fantastic that I Stayed Up Till 2am Reading It!
Thank You, Ursula Vernon!
HAMSTER PRINCESS is THE BEST EVER!
1. A Review – How Does Harriet Hamster End Up In Giant Trouble?
Well how do magic beans, a huge beanstalk, a giant goose, and a half-harp/half-hamster named ‘Harpster’ sound? Yes, Harriet and her trusty battle quail, Mumfrey, are in for a ton of adventure and fun in this twist on a Jack-and-the-Giant-Beanstalk story.
We were new to this series, and so I did not know exactly what to expect. But I love the way that Ms. Vernon turns a fairy tale on its head and adds a strong and capable heroine with a great sense of humor to the story. Any child who grew up on the Jack and the Giant Beanstalk story will recognize characters in this wonderful book who are so much better and different from the original. Also, no giants are killed in the making of this story, not even giant lop-eared bunnies!
The story is perfect for girls aged 10 and up but I think that given the appearance of Harriet’s friend Wilbur at a timely moment in the story, the book will be well liked by both girls and boys who love adventure, magic, fantastic storytelling, and a bit of humor!
I really don’t want to give the story away but just be warned it is chalk full of twists and turns and jokes-a-plenty!
Publisher’s Book Summary:
A magical beanstalk leads to a GIANT surprise in book four of Ursula Vernon’s critically acclaimed Hamster Princess series.
Harriet Hamsterbone doesn’t go looking for trouble. Somehow it always finds her. So she isn’t completely shocked when a salesman attempts to sell her some magic beans, or 
when one of those beans grows into a towering beanstalk leading up into the clouds. But even Harriet is surprised to find a giant castle–complete with one very poetically challenged giant– at the top of it. And she certainly never thought she would make a new friend named Strings who is half harp, half hamster. But Strings isn’t the giant’s guest–she and a rather large goose are his prisoners! This calls for a heroic rescue, and Harriet is just the hamster for the job.
Author Bio:
Ursula Vernon is a full-time author and illustrator whose work has won a Hugo award and been nominated for an Eisner. She loves birding, gardening, and spunky heroines, and thinks she would make a terrible princess. Ursula lives with her husband in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
2. A Craft – Do You Sew (Even A Little Bit)? Then Here Is A Printable Pattern For Harpster For You.
My daughter and I loved the Harpster character in the story, so we made a pattern and sewed a Harpster doll. And now we are sharing it with you as a download.
[ddownload id=”3368″ text=”Harpster Doll Sewing Pattern ( Word Document format )”]
It is easiest to use felt to make your Harpster, but any fabric you have will work just fine. If you have any questions about the doll, just use the comments section below and I will help you as best as I can.
3. A Giveaway! Enter below to win Hamster Princess Books!
You might win Harriet the Invincible, or one lucky winner will receive a set of all 4 books (Harriet the Invincible, Of Mice and Magic, Ratpunzel, and Giant Trouble) – so enter below today!
Enter for a chance to be one (1) grand prize winner and receive a set of Hamster Princess books, including Harriet the Invincible, Of Mice and Magic, Ratpunzel, and Giant Trouble (ARV: $51.96), or to be one (1) of five (5) second place winners to receive Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible (ARC: $12.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 8, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 15, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about May 18, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
Other ‘Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble’ Reviews & Fun Activities To Check Out This Week:
May 8 – Margie’s Must Reads
May 9 – Doodlemom’s Homeschooling Life – Review + Craft
May 9 – Ms. Yingling Reads – Review
May 10 – Adventures in Homeschooling – Review
May 10 – Four Violet – Review + Craft
May 11 – The Delightful Life
May 11 – All Done Monkey – Q&A
May 12 – Pirates n’ Pixie Dust
May 13 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
3 Responses
This looks so fun!
Yes. It absolutely is! Give it a try…
Yes, it was. If you give the doll a try and have any questions I would be happy to help!