We don't eat our classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Penelope Rex was nervous.  It's not every day a little T. rex starts school.

It's not easy starting school, especially when you're a T. rex!  Penelope has everything she needs for her first day of school including a special backpack with ponies on it (ponies are delicious), and she has 300 tuna sandwiches for her first school lunch - but she wants to know who her classmates will be (this is very important).  

On her first day she discovers that her classmates are children!  Penelope is surprised at first, but then she eats them - because children are delicious.  Luckily her teacher tells her to spit the children out because you shouldn't eat your classmates.  Penelope tries to make up for her actions, but things go from bad to worse and she starts to feel very lonely.  She tries and tries to be good and make friends - but nothing works until she gets a taste of her own medicine.

This is one of those rare laugh out loud picture books that will appeal to the adults reading the story as much as the children listening.  This book can be shared one-on-one, but would also work well being read to a group.  Penelope is a lovable and slightly tragic character, and children will be able to relate to her very well as starting school can be very challenging for children.  The illustrations are charming, and the ridiculous idea of a T. rex going to school with human children made me smile the whole way through.  

If you like this book then try:

• If I had a raptor by George O'Connor
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• I need my monster by Amanda Noll; illustrated by Howard McWilliam
• Don't push the button! by Bill Cotter
• Diary of a wombat by Jackie French; illustrated by Bruce Whatley
• This book just ate my dog! by Richard Byrne
• A is for musk ox by Erin Cabatingan & Matthew Myers
• No T.Rex in the library by Toni Buzzeo; ilustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
• Click, clack, moo: Cows that type by Doreen Cronin
• I am not a worm! by Scott Tulloch
• Tadpole's promise by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross

Reviewed by Brilla