We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins: Book-Based Activities & Printables

Starting school is exciting.

It's a place where children meet new friends, discover new ideas, and learn how to be part of a community. But for Penelope Rex, the first day of school is a little more complicated than it is for everyone else.

After all...

Penelope is a dinosaur.

And dinosaurs think children look absolutely delicious.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins is a laugh-out-loud picture book that cleverly explores friendship, empathy, and self-control through an unforgettable story full of humor and heart. While children giggle at Penelope's unusual problem, they also discover an important lesson about treating others with kindness and understanding how our actions affect those around us.

Whether you're preparing for back-to-school season, teaching social-emotional skills, or looking for a read-aloud that children immediately ask to hear again, We Don't Eat Our Classmates offers countless opportunities for meaningful, book-based learning.

What Is We Don't Eat Our Classmates About?

Penelope Rex is excited about her first day of school.

She has a new backpack.

New classmates.

A wonderful teacher.

Everything seems perfect.

Except for one small problem.

Her classmates are children...

...and Penelope can't stop thinking about how tasty they look.

Despite her best intentions, she keeps eating them.

Fortunately, her teacher reminds her of one very important classroom rule:

We don't eat our classmates.

As Penelope tries to make friends instead of snacks, she experiences an unexpected moment that helps her understand exactly how her classmates have been feeling all along.

By the end of the story, she learns that kindness, empathy, and friendship are much more rewarding than acting on every impulse.

Why Children Love This Story

Children immediately understand that the story is wonderfully silly.

They know classmates aren't meant to be lunch.

That playful contradiction creates endless laughter while making the important message feel lighthearted instead of preachy.

Penelope is also an incredibly relatable character.

She isn't trying to be mean.

She's learning.

She makes mistakes.

She wants friends.

Like many young children, she's figuring out how to manage big feelings, new situations, and unexpected challenges.

Readers cheer for her because they recognize that learning how to be a good friend takes practice.

Learning to See Things from Someone Else's Perspective

One of the reasons I return to We Don't Eat Our Classmates every school year is that it introduces empathy in such a memorable way.

At first, Penelope only thinks about what she wants.

She never stops to consider how the children feel.

Then something surprising happens.

Penelope experiences fear herself.

For the first time, she understands exactly what her classmates have been experiencing.

That moment changes everything.

Rather than simply telling children to be kind, the story gently helps them discover why kindness matters.

Those conversations often become some of the richest discussions of the school year.

If you'd like to continue the learning after reading together, these playful invitations fit naturally with the story.

Try These Book-Based Activities

• Create a Friendship Dinosaur. Invite children to decorate a dinosaur and write or draw ways that dinosaur can be a kind classmate. Add ideas like sharing, listening, helping, including others, and using kind words.

• Build a Dinosaur School. Using blocks, loose parts, or cardboard boxes, children can create a classroom for Penelope and invent new adventures where everyone learns and plays together.

• Practice Problem-Solving with Puppets. Use dinosaur and child puppets to act out common classroom situations, such as taking turns, sharing materials, or inviting someone to play. Encourage children to suggest kind solutions.

• Make a Classroom Kindness Jar. Each time someone notices an act of kindness, add a paper heart, pom-pom, or marble to the jar. Celebrate together when it's full, reinforcing the idea that every small act of kindness matters.

• Design the Perfect Backpack. Penelope is excited about starting school, so invite children to draw or collage everything they would pack for a successful first day. Encourage them to include something that helps them be a thoughtful friend.

These playful experiences strengthen social-emotional learning, creativity, oral language, cooperation, and problem-solving while helping children build positive classroom relationships.

A Wonderful Book for Back-to-School

Although We Don't Eat Our Classmates is enjoyable any time of year, it shines during the first weeks of school.

Children are learning classroom routines.

Meeting new classmates.

Navigating friendships.

Managing emotions.

Penelope's experiences create a safe, humorous way to discuss classroom expectations without making children feel criticized.

Instead of focusing on rules alone, the story encourages children to think about how everyone wants to feel welcomed, respected, and included.

That's an important foundation for building a caring classroom community.

Ryan T. Higgins' Perfect Blend of Humor and Heart

Ryan T. Higgins has an incredible talent for creating characters who are both hilarious and deeply lovable.

Penelope's expressive facial expressions, oversized emotions, and sincere attempts to do the right thing make her impossible not to love.

The illustrations are filled with tiny visual jokes that reward careful readers.

Pause occasionally to study the artwork.

How can you tell when Penelope feels nervous?

When does she begin to understand her mistake?

Which details make the story even funnier than the words alone?

Children often notice something new every time they revisit the book.

Growing Social-Emotional Skills Through Stories

Picture books are powerful tools for helping children understand emotions.

After reading We Don't Eat Our Classmates, invite children to reflect with questions like:

"How did Penelope feel on her first day?"

"How did the children probably feel?"

"What helped Penelope become a better friend?"

"What can we do to help someone feel welcome?"

These conversations encourage empathy, emotional vocabulary, perspective-taking, and self-awareness while helping children connect the story to their own daily experiences.

Sometimes the funniest stories teach the most meaningful lessons.

Extending the Learning with a Book Companion

Some books help children laugh about the first day of school.

Others help them build strong friendships.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates beautifully does both.

My We Don't Eat Our Classmates Book Companion extends the story through literacy activities, comprehension, sequencing, vocabulary, social-emotional learning, friendship lessons, writing invitations, dramatic play, and hands-on projects that encourage children to revisit Penelope's story while strengthening essential early learning skills.

Because every child deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and valued from the very first day of school.

Final Thoughts

Starting school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and a little scary—all at the same time.

Through Penelope Rex's unforgettable first day, Ryan T. Higgins reminds children that everyone is learning, everyone makes mistakes, and everyone has the ability to become a thoughtful friend.

Long after the final page is turned, children continue talking about Penelope, laughing at her unusual appetite, and remembering the simple rule that makes every classroom a happier place.

Perhaps that's the true magic of We Don't Eat Our Classmates.

It's not really a story about a dinosaur who eats children.

It's a celebration of empathy, friendship, and discovering that the best part of school isn't what's on your lunch menu—it's the people sitting beside you.