Wildlife According to Og the Frog

  As night falls, Ms. Mac pays us a visit.

  “I hope you two had a good rest today,” she says. “Because your work isn’t over. Tomorrow, a whole new group of campers arrives for the next session of camp!”

  Leaping lizards—Humphrey and I are going back to work! Only this time, we’ll know so much more about the schedules, the pranks, the Clash of the Cabins . . . and the Howler!

  And I’ll know that Humphrey can manage quite well in the wild, with a little help from a friend like me.

  Later in the evening, the counselors gather in the rec room to recall the high points of the first session.

  Then Maria brings in popcorn, Katie takes out her guitar, and Ms. Mac gets her bongo drums. The counselors and Hap sing for the rest of the evening. When I hear those drums, I have to join in the fun as well.

  There was a swamp where lived a frog

  And Bongo was his name-o.

  B-O-N-G-O!

  B-O-N-G-O!

  B-O-N-G-O!

  And Bongo was his name-o.

  And in a camp there lived that frog

  And Bongo was his name-o.

  B-O-N-G-O!

  B-O-N-G-O!

  B-O-N-G-O!

  And Bongo was his name-o.

  I dedicate the next verse to the best friend a camper ever had: Humphrey.

  A hamster came to camp as well

  And he’s a wild thing now-o.

  HUM, HUM, HUM, HUM-PHREY!

  HUM, HUM, HUM, HUM-PHREY!

  HUM, HUM, HUM, HUM-PHREY!

  And Humphrey is his name-o.

  And I’m not that surprised when a tiny voice joins in that last chorus.

  “SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK!

  SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK!

  SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK!

  SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK, SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK!”

  I can’t wait for camp to start again!

  Sing-Along Suggestions

  for Og’s Songs

  All of Og’s songs can be sung to familiar melodies. Have fun singing!

  Here and Here

  Humphrey loves to help his friends . . . . “Yankee Doodle”

  Here, Here and Here

  There was a swamp where lived a frog . . . . “Bingo”

  Here

  A-camping we will go . . . . “The Farmer in the Dell”

  Here, Here and Here

  What’s a Howler? and Where’s the Howler? . . . . “Frère Jacques”

  Here

  Humphrey’s having a journey . . . . “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”

  Here

  Hoppy, hoppy . . . . “Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)”

  Here

  Welcome, welcome, to you . . . . “Happy Birthday to You”

  Here and Here

  Hello, Star Frog, how are you? and Thank you, Star Frog, and bye-bye . . . . “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

  © Frank Birney

  Betty G. Birney has written episodes for numerous children’s television shows, including Madeline, Doug, and Bobby’s World, as well as after-school specials and a television movie, Mary Christmas. She has won many awards for her television work, including an Emmy, three Humanitas Prizes, and a Writers Guild of America Award.

  In addition to the Humphrey books, she is the author of The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs and The Princess and the Peabodys.

  A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Betty lives in Los Angeles with her husband, an actor.

  Find fun Og and Humphrey activities and teachers’ guides at

  www.bettygbirney.com

  Follow Og, Humphrey and Betty online

  www.facebook.com/AccordingtoHumphrey

  Twitter: @bettygbirney

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