A Home for Hamtaro & Other Stories (とっとこハム太郎) is the first book in the Hamtaro manga series, and the first main installment in the Hamtaro franchise itself. The book was released in October 1997, written by Ritsuko Kawai and published by Shogakukan. The story is told in the first person by Hamtaro, and shows the realistic, albeit humorous, life of the titular hamster. It was followed by a second volume titled Hamtaro Gets Lost & Other Stories.
A Home for Hamtaro is a compilation of stories previously seen in Shogakukan Learning Magazine's "Second Grade"; originally under the same name as the Japanese book, Tottoko Hamutaro. Additionally, some republished variants of the book are titled "Tottoko Hamutaro: Nice to Meet You ♪" (とっとこハム太郎 はじめまして♪).
Plot
The story begins with a hamster leaving his mother and siblings in a box with holes now that he can take care of himself. He falls asleep and wakes to see a girl and her father. The girl is named Yukari and has received him as a birthday present from her father. The hamster later falls asleep. Yukari calls the hamster Hamtaro and he gets used to the name. Hamtaro would leave his cage to play. When he once leaves his cage and hides under a dark dresser, Yukari is worried when she goes to school and comes home quickly. Hamtaro regrets after waking and seeing nobody, thinking everyone is gone. He finds seeds in his cage and eats. Yukari surprises him and is happy he is back, and he decides not to run away again.
Hamtaro spins on his wheel and Yukari praises him. One day, she is upset and will not play. Hamtaro worries about her and spins on his wheel at night and decides to follow her to school and help. However, he wakes up and thinks she has left. He tries to leave his cage and catch up to her and climbs up the top of his cage and chips his tooth while trying not to fall. Turns out she did not leave and cheers him on. She is also encouraged given she couldn't get up the steel bars at the school playground. Hamtaro is happy.
Another day, Yukari takes his bowl of seeds to study multiplication. She puts him in his cage much to his frustration. She gives him a biscuit and he feels better. He breaks the biscuit in bits since it is too long to fit in his cage or in his cheeks.
One day, Yukari cleans his cage and his scent and food are all gone. He bites her hand in anger and he regrets hurting her. He also realizes the old food in his cage would rot and is thankful to have his cage cleaned.
One day he digs in a plant pot and makes a mess and is dirty. Yukari is dismayed and Hamtaro is embarrassed.
Another time he climbs up her curtain and is rescued. He still climbs again and even falls into a waste basket once.
Another time he falls into a bowl of shallow water and gets wet and Yukari has to help and dry him.
He once falls out of her pocket outside and is saved when he grabs Yukari's leg and she picks him up. He is relieved to be safe.
Other content
- Hamtaro's song
Characters
Gallery
