Einstein the Class Hamster and the Very Real Game Show (Einstein the Class Hamster Series)
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places and threw his shirt into
Bonnie’s pack. “Don’t get into trouble.”
“We’ll be as quiet as a mouse,”
Marlon said.
“Mice aren’t quiet,” Einstein said.
“They’re the biggest chatterboxes in
the rodent family. Seriously, they
never shut up.”
“As long as you do,” Ned said.
But Einstein was too busy looking
around to answer. He was on the set
of a real game show!
The life span of a mouse is usually
only one to two years—except for
Mickey Mouse, who’s been around for
more than eight decades.
Mice are nocturnal and can’t see
colors; their tails are almost as long as
their bodies. When they communicate
with each other, they make ultrasonic
noises that humans can’t hear. Mice are
super neat, organizing their living
spaces into different areas. They’re also
very smart and can find their way
through a complicated maze.
One female mouse can deliver
more than one hundred and twenty
babies each year.
CHAPTER FOUR
wE’rE rEaLlY
hErE!
As several assistants ushered the
class into the studio, Einstein and
Marlon ducked behind some crates.
“Look at all the lights!” Einstein said.
“And a REAL audience!”
“The set seems fake,” Marlon
complained. “It’s much better on TV.”
Einstein shook his head. It was
generous of Ned to invite Marlon
along, but let’s face it—Einstein was
the one who helped the class study all
those fun facts, not Marlon.
“Welcome to KIDS KNOW STUFF,“
the announcer boomed over the
speakers.
The blue curtains parted, and
Lance Weaver emerged, waving
to the crowd.
“It’s him!” Einstein said. “The host!”
Lance Weaver was the coolest guy
Einstein had ever seen—cooler than a
lion tamer, engineer, and movie star
combined.
“He’s amazing!” Einstein crooned.
Marlon already wished he’d stayed
back in the classroom.
“Is everybody ready?” Lance asked.
“Because it’s time to play...”
The entire studio audience shouted
along with the host, “KIDS KNOW
STUFF!”
“Look, Marlon!” Einstein pointed to
the bright words above them. “It’s
the APPLAUSE sign.”
Sure enough, the studio audience
started hooting and clapping as soon
as the neon sign flashed.
“I’ve GOT to get one of those,”
Einstein said. He could already tell this
was going to be the most memorable
day of his life.
Engineer Percy Spencer was at work,
standing next to a magnetron—a micro-
wave tube used in radar systems—
when he realized the chocolate bar
in his pocket had melted. Percy was
curious (like all good inventors), so he
got some corn kernels and held them
next to the magnetron, creating the first
microwave popcorn. He then held up a
raw egg that exploded and cooked all
over his co-worker.
Percy Spencer held patents for over
a hundred inventions, but he’s most
famous for the microwave oven. The
first one he made was about five and
a half feet tall and weighed 750
pounds—three times heavier than the
average refrigerator!
THAT’S NOT
GOING TO FIT ON
THE COUNTER.
CHAPTER FIVE
mEaNwHiLe, iN tHe
pArKiNg lOt
“I can’t believe they threw us out,”
Principal Decker told Twinkles. “They
obviously have no appreciation for
amazing reptilian specimens.” He
paced outside the studio until another
guard came to shoo him away.
“I’m not going in without you,”
Principal Decker told Twinkles. “You
know what the Marines say: ‘Never
leave a man behind.’ ”
Twinkles liked being Principal
Decker’s favorite pet, but the guy
was crazier than a bag of wolverines.
“There’s got to be a way to get in,”
Principal Decker mumbled.
Twinkles spotted a rabbit in the
bushes behind one of the cars and
licked his lips. Come over here, little
bunny. Would you like a hug?
“I’ve got it!” Principal Decker said.
“A surefire way into the studio!”
The principal picked up Twinkles and
headed to the store at the edge of
the parking lot.
The rabbit was relieved.
There’s no difference between rabbits
and bunnies; they’re just different words
for the same animal. Rabbits are
herbivores that eat grasses and other
plants. A rabbit’s digestive system is
structurally similar to a horse’s; they
both need to eat fibrous plants daily.
It’s important for rabbits to eat healthy
fiber every day because,
like horses, they can’t
vomit. For a rabbit,
a hairball can be fatal.
UGH! NOT
MORE FIBER!
I’LL
EAT IT!
CHAPTER SIX
tHiS iS
iT!
Ned hoped he could harness his
nervous excitement. They were
going to be on television! He looked
over to Bonnie, who seemed cool and
collected. Ms. Moreno also appeared
ready to go, her hand poised above
the buzzer.
“First, the rules of the game,”
the host said. “Each team consists
of one class and a teacher. Only two
students can compete at a time,
alternating with other students in
their class. Does everyone understand
how to play...”
Again, the audience shouted along,
“KIDS KNOW STUFF!”
The neon light flashed, and the
audience applauded.
“So many fun facts,” Einstein said.
“I’d give anything to be up there.”
“Let’s introduce our teams,” Lance
continued. “Led by their teacher,
Ms. Moreno, we’ve got students from
Boerring Elementary School!”
The whole class held up their fists
like boxers climbing into the ring.
Einstein and Marlon cheered from
the sidelines.
“Our other team is from Perfect
Ed Elementary, and they’re led by
Mr. Tompkins!”
Ned glanced across the stage to
their opponents. The teacher looked
as if he’d never cracked a smile in his
life, and the students looked like they
ate encyclopedias for breakfast with
maple syrup and toast.
“I wasn’t worried before,” Bonnie
whispered to Ned. “But I am now.”
Ned had to agree.
“Okay,” the host continued. “The
category is history. And our first
question goes to the students from
Boerring Elementary.”
Ned and Bonnie got ready for the
first question. Ms. Moreno gave them
a big thumbs-up.
“How many Pilgrims traveled to the
New World on the Mayflower?” Lance
Weaver asked.
Bonnie suddenly looked panicked.
Ned knew he’d covered this topic with
Einstein during AnSwEr...ThAt...
QuEsTiOn, but with the bright lights
and the studio audience staring him
down, he couldn’t remember a thing.
“You know this fact!” Einstein
shouted from his hiding place. “We
studied it last week!”
BUZZ!
Somebody pressed the buzzer.
“Boerring Elementary, what have
you got?” Lance asked with a smile.
Unfortunately, Ms. Moreno’s head
hitting the podium was what made the
buzzer buzz. The students watched
their teacher snoring onstage.
Einstein’s classmates needed him.
There was only one thing to do. He
scurried behind the stage to reach Ned.
Initially, two ships were scheduled to
bring the Pilgrims to America—the
Mayflower and the Speedwell. But the
Speedwell had to turn back twice
because of leaks in the hull, so all the
passengers were put on the Mayflower.
The Pilgrims couldn’t change their
clothes or bathe for two months and
were often seasick. One child was born
during the journey and one child died.
Believe it or not, 10 percent of all
Americans today—more than 31 million
people—can trace their ancestors back
to the Mayflower Pilgrims.
CHAPTER SEVEN
mEaNwHiLe, bAcK aT
sEcUrItY
The guards moved aside when they
spotted the man in the silken robes
and turban.
“Get out of my way!” the prince
exclaimed. “Don’t you know I’m
royalty?”
“I’m sorry, sir. We weren’t
expecting you.” One guard made a
short bow and let the prince pass
through the entry point.
“I didn’t realize a real prince was
coming today,” the guard whispered.
He’s a prince-ipal, Twinkles thought.
“Did he say he was from India?” the
other guard asked.
“He sure looks familiar,” the first
guard added. “I’ve definitely seen him
before.”
The two guards accompanied the
prince to a seat in the front row.
Many games were invented in India,
including chess and Chutes and Ladders
(sometimes called Snakes and Ladders).
Yoga was also invented in India, as well
as three of the world’s major religions—
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
CHAPTER EIGHT
wHeN tHe gOiNg gEtS
tOuGh, cAlL a
hAmStEr
“Ned!” Einstein shouted. “How many
Pilgrims were on the Mayflower? You
can do this. Come on!”
Ned tentatively pressed the buzzer.
“Ninety-nine Pilgrims?”
“I’m sorry, that’s incorrect.”
Why is everyone answering questions
with questions? Einstein wondered.
Lance Weaver turned to Perfect
Ed Elementary. Before he could
repeat the question, everyone on
the team hit their buzzers.
“There were one hundred and two
Pilgrims traveling on the Mayflower,”
they said in unison.
“That’s correct!” the host shouted.
WE ARE SMART!
Neither the students nor their
teacher at Perfect Ed Elementary
showed the slightest hint of a smile
after winning the round.
“I can’t believe I missed that one.”
Ned wished he had taken Einstein’s
advice and studied a little harder.
“You’ll get the next one,” Einstein
whispered.
From the front row, Twinkles
squinted toward the stage. Is that my
appetizer—I mean, my buddy Einstein?
Principal Decker’s turban slowly
began to unwind.
Stay right there, my little snack.
Your pal Twinkles is on the way.
Ned noticed Twinkles sliding across
the floor before Einstein did. So did a
woman in the first row, who started
screaming.
Several audience members jumped
to their feet. Principal Decker felt his
turbanless head and panicked. “Twinkles!
Come to Papa!”
But Twinkles was halfway across
the stage, slithering toward Einstein.
“What are YOU doing here?”
Einstein said. “Go squeeze somebody
your own size.”
“Like you?”
Just as Twinkles was about to wind
himself around Einstein, Lance
Weaver leaped onto his podium,
waking up Ms. Moreno.
“Call security! I’m afraid of snakes!”
he screamed. “I have ophidiophobia!”
The Perfect Ed Elementary team
hit their buzzers. “Ophidophobia is a
fear of snakes,” they all shouted.
Perfect Ed Elementary is a bunch
of know-it-alls, thought Ned and
Bonnie.
“Snakes are forbidden
on the set. It’s in my
contract!” The host
jumped onto a spotlight
and swung across the stage.
“It’s either me or the snake, so I’m
out of here!”
“Lance, come back!” The director
turned to his assistant. “Where am I
going to find a replacement host to
finish the show?”
That was all Einstein
needed to hear.
More than 19 million Americans suffer
from some form of phobia. Twice as many
women deal with phobias compared with
men. Scientists still don’t understand why
certain people have irrational fears.
Here are some of the most common
phobias:
•Acrophobia (fear of heights)
•Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
•Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces)
•Cynophobia (fear of dogs)
•Glossophobia (fear of public speaking)
•Nyctophobia (fear of the dark)
•Testophobia (fear of taking tests)
And don’t forget phobophobia—the
fear of phobias.
MY DOG IS
GREAT WITH KIDS.
CHAPTER NINE
eInStEiN’s tUrN
tO sHiNe
“This is my chance to host A REAL
GAME SHOW,” Einstein told Marlon.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment
my whole life!”
“Then we better get you mic’d up.”
Einstein looked around. It wasn’t
Marlon who’d answered h
im; it was
the friendly guy standing beside him.
“You can HEAR me?” Einstein asked.
“Of course I can. I’m the sound
man. You can call me Bill.”
Einstein reached up to shake Bill’s
hand.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always paid
attention to sounds,” Bill said. “I could
tell the difference between a cardinal
and a starling when I was just two
years old.”
“You mean when they sing?” Marlon
asked.
“No. When they talk. Those birds
never shut up.”
“Like mice,” Einstein agreed.
Marlon gestured toward Einstein.
“See this hamster? He has his own
game show back at school. He’s a
really good host.”
Einstein couldn’t hide his surprise.
Marlon always seemed to be
humoring Einstein when he played
AnSwEr...ThAt...QuEsTiOn.
He had no idea Marlon thought he
was actually good at it. Einstein really
appreciated his friend’s support.
“But no one in the studio will be