Children Are Delicious.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Written & Illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
Age Level: 3-6 Years
Published June 19, 2018

A Hilarious Take on the Golden Rule

To lighten the mood at back-to-school time, my son and I absolutely love the hysterically funny book, We Don’t Eat Our Classmates. Penelope Rex, a lovable little T-Rex, is nervous about starting school. What will her classmates be like? How many teeth will they have? Finally, the first day arrives and Penelope enters her classroom and discovers that her classmates are… CHILDREN! 

“So she ate them.
Because children are delicious.”

Her teacher stands up and declares that we don’t eat our classmates! She demands that Penelope spit them out immediately. Penelope, contritely holding her tiny T-rex arms to her chest, complies. Teddy gets a kick out of the pile of angry, grossed out kids, scowling at Penelope as they sit in puddles of dino drool. 

Throughout the day, Penelope tries befriending her classmates, but her overtures don’t quite hit the mark. She encourages the kids to go down the slide at recess… and straight into her wide-open mouth. She saves them a seat at lunch… right in the center of her plate. 

The next day, lonely and forlorn, Penelope approaches the class pet, Walter the goldfish. Maybe he will be friends with her? She dips a finger into the fishbowl and Walter latches on with a big chomp! Now that she knows how it feels to be munched on, Penelope has newfound respect for her classmates and disciplines herself not to eat them.

This laugh out loud book is great for soothing nerves and coaxing out some giggles at back-to-school time. It’s also a great opportunity to remind younger children not to hit or bite, and to reinforce the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Rest assured kiddos, everyone makes friends at school. Even Penelope Rex can do it.