This is the page for information and notes from Humphrey about his favorite books, HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS & HUMPHREY'S FIRST PALM SUNDAY!!
Included are fun images of Humphrey events and a few of the wonderful projects that his fans have created, including reviews! Enjoy!!!!
Included are fun images of Humphrey events and a few of the wonderful projects that his fans have created, including reviews! Enjoy!!!!
I'm posting a really wonderful reading of Humphrey's First Christmas by Heather DeWit. She is Director of Children's Ministry at Community Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, SD! She did such an awesome job and captured Humphrey's humor perfectly! She also included a really fun bookmark/Humphrey blanket craft idea!
I know you'll love this as much as I do! Humphrey and I are sending lots of Christmas kisses to everyone!!!!!
HUMPHREY AT THE LIBRARY!
I just received a set of pictures showing Humphrey on a special visit to the library! Humphrey checked in for his personal appearance and brought his favorite book, HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!
Hope you enjoy the slide show of Humphrey out and about this Christmas!
Click on CARRIAGES, CAMELS AND CRITTERS to go their Facebook page. You'll be able to see more photos of Humphrey and many of his friends!
PJ DRANSFELDT READING HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS BOARD BOOK
PJ was on her way to a lunch date when she pulled out the new Humphrey's First Christmas board book to read along the way! Humphrey was thrilled to see PJ reading his story! He thinks she is almost as cute as he is! (P.S., Don't tell Humphrey, but I think she's way cuter!)
Thanks to PJ's Mom Bev Dransfeldt and her grandmother Pam for the photos!
HUMPHREY'S THREE COUSINS SING HARMONY
Humphrey asked me to post this video. He told me you should pay special attention to the trio of singing camels, and to let you know that they are his cousins!
HUMPHREY AT THE LADIES' TEA
Below are some photos of a skit that was done at the Ladies' Tea in Forest Lake MN. The performance occurred as Humphrey's First Christmas was being read! Lots of fun to see my book come to life!
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!
YELLOW TRUCK PRODUCTIONS shot the trailer for Humphrey. It was written and edited by the talented Writer-Producer-Editor Juli Juteau. Claude Budin-Juteau was the Director of Photography-Editor. Both did an amazing job. Here it is!
REVIEW:
"Carol’s heart-warming, lighthearted Christmas narrative combines with her breathtaking illustrations to make this a Christmas classic I would recommend for any age and faith."
Gail Welborn
Seattle Examiner
HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS is my first original story. I've done retellings of other stories, EXCALIBUR, SLEEPING BEAUTY etc., but this was entirely my own book, writing and illustrating. It was as exciting to me as the release of my first picture book.
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REVIEW: The Humphrey books are so great! As a children's minister, I got them to mix up how we tell the stories. I really love this First Christmas one. It has humor in all the right spots. The "moral" of the story is moving and theologically sound. I recommend this book to anyone. Heather Children's Minister |
REVIEW:
"A book read many times during Christmas at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC has a charming conclusion. Humphrey whines and complains because his blanket is lost. He tries many hilarious ways to stay warm. The beauty of the story is when this self-important camel beholds the Christ Child."
~ANN H. SANGER
Librarian
Here are a few pictures that Claude Budin-Juteau, took with his still camera while we were filming the Humphrey's First Christmas trailer. I think they are about as perfect as photos can get!! He captured this sequence of me showing Humphrey his portrait on the cover of HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!
As you can see Humphrey was quite impressed with his book! He took several moments to admire himself, then couldn't resist kissing his likeness. Finally he decided it looked good enough to eat. That was the last official shot!
However, I did take the liberty of adding one more to the series. The end result! I learned to bring a bunch of carrots for Humphrey to munch!
However, I did take the liberty of adding one more to the series. The end result! I learned to bring a bunch of carrots for Humphrey to munch!
REVIEW:
These books are so awesome! I read it to the kids at church on Palm Sunday to give a different perspective. The humor is just right. The art is fantastic. Humphrey for the win!
Heather
Children's Minister
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HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS Written and Illustrated by Carol Heyer REVIEW: "I am drowning in a sea of lovely Christmas picture books...And I'm not sure I can resist the divinely silly HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS by Carol Heyer — a story about a camel's journey to the stable and the surprise he finds waiting there." ~ Ann Cannon DESERET NEWS ~ |
THE YEAR OF HUMPHREY THE CAMEL!
HUMPHREY wanted everyone to know that 2013 was the year of the camel. Humphrey is as pleased as he can be and he hopes that everyone will try to follow their mischievous inner camel.
According to Humphrey, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, ad infinitum, should also be called the year of the camel. However, he thinks that, THE YEAR OF HUMPHREY THE CAMEL would be even better! Oh Humphrey!
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HUMPHREY'S FIRST PALM SUNDAY
Written and Illustrated by Carol Heyer A new follow-up to the popular Humphrey's First Christmas that finds Humphrey in the midst of Jesus' triumphal entry. The delightfully goofy camel we met in Humphrey's First Christmas is back, three decades older and not much wiser. He wants nothing more than to be the lead camel in the caravan, so he can improve his view. When the caravan leads him to Jerusalem, he crosses paths with Jesus making his triumphal entry. Humphrey is delighted to see Jesus, now a grown man, and remembers the Child to whom he gave his coveted blanket all those years ago in Bethlehem. |
Well the launch for Humphrey's First Palm Sunday at MRS. FIGS' BOOKWORM was a HUGE success. Connie Halpern, Mrs. Figs, was amazing and the day was fun and exciting. The first count is in for copies of Humphrey sold for the debut at 136. I'll put out a notice when the final count is tallied, but that is spectacular! Below are some photos taken on the day by SIRI WEBER FEENEY.
HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS read by the Kimbrell family
I was so excited to receive this audio of HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS read by the Kimbrell family and beautifully edited by Adam Kimbrell.
I'm also including the wonderful e-mail he wrote which explains the tradition:
Ms. Heyer,
Several years ago my mom asked me to help her make a recording of her reading a story to give to my young niece and nephew for a Christmas surprise. She chose "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". After we recorded her voice, I went back and added sound effects and an original score. This past Christmas we completed our third story. I wanted to do something really special this year. I thought of writing our own story and Illustrating it ourselves. To begin, I went to the internet to research the Christmas story in hopes of finding some inspiration to get us started. What I found were illustrations from your book, "Humphrey's First Christmas". I stopped searching at that moment. Your pictures were perfect for what we wanted to create. I loved the personality you gave Humphrey, and the new and fresh way you told such an old story. I am e-mailing you to thank you for your talent, and I have attached our recording to show you what we did with your art. I hope you don't mind what we did. It was not for commercial gain, just a home made present for my sister's kids.
Thanks Again,
Adam Kimbrell
Marionette Show
Here are slides of a wonderful marionette show adapted from HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS by Rabon Johnson and his wife Karen. They wrote a script, built a stage and dressed the camels in their finery! They also purchased copies of HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS to give to the children! The show was attended by family for a "Jesus' Birthday Celebration"!
Photos are of the: Program created with HFC cover on the front, behind the scenes with the script pasted up and camels waiting for their cues, the play in progress, and pictures of the children's beautiful faces as they watched and participated in the production. Thanks Rabon and family for such a wonderful treat!
Photos are of the: Program created with HFC cover on the front, behind the scenes with the script pasted up and camels waiting for their cues, the play in progress, and pictures of the children's beautiful faces as they watched and participated in the production. Thanks Rabon and family for such a wonderful treat!
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REVIEW: Humphrey's First Christmas (Hardcover)
Every year during the Scholastic Book Fair, the volunteer mothers and I find a book we all love, deeming it the Hit of the Book Fair! This year "Humphrey's First Christmas" is--hands down now--the Hit!
Look at that unlovely face on the cover--right in your face! You see, Humphrey is very upset because he lost his blanket, the one that keeps him warm during cold desert nights. His two companions still have theirs. If you know the way of camels, you know that they are not the most congenial of animals. Because the other two camels are warm and his master is cozy in his little tent, Humphrey is indignant! He pushes his way into the tent with his master, pushing his master out. Finally, at the next oasis, the master obtains and gives Humphrey a nice replacement blanket.
At each page of Humphrey's growing annoyance, Author/Artist Carol Heyer gives the camel increasingly sillier faces and poses. Humphrey's unattractive poses and laugh-aloud antics detract the reader from obvious clues on each page just what this story is about. There are three clues on the cover alone that indicate the nature of the story: the title, that bright star in the upper-right corner, and a camel wearing a half-bridle.
That replacement blanket becomes very important in this story: it becomes a symbol for the free nature of gifts from the heart. Heyer has created such an original approach to the traditional Christmas story that the reader actually forgets it is the season until the last three pages. However, a second, closer examination of visual clues on every page does, indeed, make this a wonderful Christmas story.
The book begins and ends with the same words, each in a unique and completely different context. In the first, the reader sees a close-up of one of Humphrey's beautiful eyes. It's a jolt! The last time the words are used will give you goose-bumps and a lump in the throat.
I'll say no more. This is a book that any believer in the Christmas story will love and want to share with both children and other adults. Highly recommended! In fact, during the Christmas season, put this book, paperback though it is, right on your coffee table and encourage your Christian guests to visit Humphrey. They'll be glad they did.
By Judy K. Polhemus ~ THE BOOK COLLECTOR
Every year during the Scholastic Book Fair, the volunteer mothers and I find a book we all love, deeming it the Hit of the Book Fair! This year "Humphrey's First Christmas" is--hands down now--the Hit!
Look at that unlovely face on the cover--right in your face! You see, Humphrey is very upset because he lost his blanket, the one that keeps him warm during cold desert nights. His two companions still have theirs. If you know the way of camels, you know that they are not the most congenial of animals. Because the other two camels are warm and his master is cozy in his little tent, Humphrey is indignant! He pushes his way into the tent with his master, pushing his master out. Finally, at the next oasis, the master obtains and gives Humphrey a nice replacement blanket.
At each page of Humphrey's growing annoyance, Author/Artist Carol Heyer gives the camel increasingly sillier faces and poses. Humphrey's unattractive poses and laugh-aloud antics detract the reader from obvious clues on each page just what this story is about. There are three clues on the cover alone that indicate the nature of the story: the title, that bright star in the upper-right corner, and a camel wearing a half-bridle.
That replacement blanket becomes very important in this story: it becomes a symbol for the free nature of gifts from the heart. Heyer has created such an original approach to the traditional Christmas story that the reader actually forgets it is the season until the last three pages. However, a second, closer examination of visual clues on every page does, indeed, make this a wonderful Christmas story.
The book begins and ends with the same words, each in a unique and completely different context. In the first, the reader sees a close-up of one of Humphrey's beautiful eyes. It's a jolt! The last time the words are used will give you goose-bumps and a lump in the throat.
I'll say no more. This is a book that any believer in the Christmas story will love and want to share with both children and other adults. Highly recommended! In fact, during the Christmas season, put this book, paperback though it is, right on your coffee table and encourage your Christian guests to visit Humphrey. They'll be glad they did.
By Judy K. Polhemus ~ THE BOOK COLLECTOR
FRANKINCENSE AND MIRTH: HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Here is one of the first reviews I received on HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS. It was from JUST ONE MORE BOOK the wonderful blog site by Andrea Ross & Mark Blevis and it is still my favorite review. Humphrey was also number one on their Wintry Reading list!
Here is one of the first reviews I received on HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS. It was from JUST ONE MORE BOOK the wonderful blog site by Andrea Ross & Mark Blevis and it is still my favorite review. Humphrey was also number one on their Wintry Reading list!
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Humphrey's full time home is at the Lazy JV Ranch in Kentucky! Valerie, a friend of mine, takes wonderful care of him and she sends me updates on how he's doing. Here are a few recent photos of Humphrey that Val sent me! I LOVE his funny face!
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You can see more of Humphrey's antics at Val's website. Click on the pictures below.
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 Humphrey's personal page! |
Launch of HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
The launch of HUMPHREY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS at Moorpark College Zoo was a lot of fun. We watched a wonderful animal show and the highlight of the day was seeing Humphrey, who made a special surprise appearance!
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Check back for more Humphrey updates. In the meantime Humphrey and I send you lots of kisses!
