We Don't Eat Our Classmates: Penelope Rex
#1 of 4 in Penelope Rex Series
on Goodreads (11,190)
What’s inside...
It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all. Readers will gobble up this hilarious new story from award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.
Discussion points
How do you think Penelope felt when she tried to make friends at school?
Why is it important to treat others the way you want to be treated?
What would you do if you were Penelope when she discovered others were scared of her?
Can you think of a time you had to learn something important about friendship like Penelope?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a gentle tone to foster an open environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts.
Relate Penelope’s experiences to your child’s school or social experiences to make the conversation more personal and relevant.
Encourage your child to think about their actions and feelings by relating back to the book, helping them apply the moral of the story in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding others' feelings
Explanation: Penelope Rex learns to understand her classmates' feelings after realizing how it feels to be eaten. This helps her develop empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by considering how their actions make others feel, helping them to build better relationships with their peers.
Example Lesson: Importance of respect and kindness
Explanation: Throughout the book, Penelope learns the importance of treating others with kindness, which makes school a happier place for everyone.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of respecting others, encouraging them to practice kindness in their interactions at school and at home.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Penelope makes mistakes, such as trying to eat her classmates, but she learns from these mistakes and changes her behavior.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to see mistakes as opportunities for growth and to not be discouraged by setbacks in life.
Example Lesson: Appreciating differences
Explanation: Penelope is a dinosaur among human classmates, highlighting differences. Through the story, she learns to appreciate and celebrate these differences.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand and embrace diversity among their peers, promoting inclusiveness and acceptance.
Example Lesson: Social skills development
Explanation: The book portrays Penelope developing key social skills, such as sharing and interacting positively with her classmates.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to practice good social habits like sharing and cooperating with others, essential skills for their developmental journey.