| Birth Date: | April 26, 1947 |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Alma Mater: | Webster University |
| Genre: | Children's fiction |
| Children: | 3 |
| Notable Works: | Humphrey |
| Years Active: | 1992–present |
| Occupation: | Author |
Betty G. Birney (born April 26, 1947) is an American author, screenwriter, and teacher. She is best known for the Humphrey children's book series.
Betty G. Birney was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up and went to school in Affton, a suburb of St. Louis, and went to college at Webster College, now Webster University in Webster Groves. She spent much of her life as an English teacher. Today Birney lives in Los Angeles, California.[1]
Birney wrote her first book, "Teddy Bear in the Woods" when she was only seven years old. As a professional writer she has written several books for Disney and has also worked at Disneyland. She has also written for video games, television, and movies, including the 2002 made-for-TV film Mary Christmas.
The Humphrey series, also known as According to Humphrey, follows the daily adventures of Humphrey, a hamster who is the class pet at an elementary school. Every week the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, lets someone take Humphrey home. Humphrey, who was introduced to the class by a substitute teacher, Ms. McNamara (known as "Ms. Mac" to the students), is smarter than he looks and often helps the children with their problems, though no one expects anything from him because he's a hamster. He can leave his cage whenever he wants because the lock doesn't lock, and nobody knows about this except for him. Every kid in Humphrey's class has a different nickname, such as Lower-Your-Voice A.J. or Speak-Up Sayeh. Humphrey also bonds with Aldo, a janitor who comes in to clean the room after school. Humphrey and Mrs. Brisbane feel negatively about each other at first, but warm up to each other later. In book 2 another class pet, a frog named Og, is introduced. In Summer According to Humphrey, Humphrey is brought to summer school. Starting in School Days According to Humphrey, a new school year begins, and with it there is a new group of kids.
The first title in the series, The World According to Humphrey, was published on February 2, 2004.[2] PW praised The World According to Humphrey, calling it a "breezy, well-crafted first novel, narrated by a hamster."[3] The series has two spinoffs: Humphrey's Tiny Tales and Og the Frog. Birney announced on her website that a new Humphrey book will be released in 2024.[4]
Birney has won an Emmy Award, three Humanitas Prizes, and a Writers Guild of America Award.[5]