I, Freddy Hardcover – May 1, 2003 by Dietlof Reiche (Author), Joe Cepeda (Illustrator)
 
Move over Stuart Little, there's a new mouse in town. Except this mouse is a hamster. And not just any hamster. He is a Mesocricetus auratus, a golden hamster of the highest order.

Freddy is dissatisfied w/ his monotonous treadmill life at the pet store. He endures countless indignities in order to get himself adopted so he can lead a more civilized life. After a series of funny misadventures (including encounters w/ a fierce tomcat & 2 guinea pigs who speak in Shakespearean couplets) he teaches himself to read & write & pens a witty & heartwarming autobiography a/b his journey towards self-improvement. Written in jaunty, fast-paced prose w/ deadpan humor & hilarious plot turns, this brilliant novel & the irresistible Freddy will win your heart on the first page.
 
7.7