“Higgins is back with a pitch-perfect tale of first-day jitters and unexpected empathy. Penelope, a pink-overall-clad T-rex, is exceptionally nervous about her first day of school. She’s so nervous that, after learning her classmates are all children, she eats them. Delicious! But Mrs. Noodleman is not amused. It isn’t until someone tries to make Penelope into a snack that she begins to understand just how her classmates feel. Penelope’s growing awareness of her classmates’ feelings is both adorable and relatable. Higgins’ charming illustrations and use of humor make Penelope’s story ideal for younger readers, especially as they transition into new experiences and social situations.”
— Sara Grochowski, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
Description
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.
About the Author
Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator of the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce, which received the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor; Hotel Bruce; BE QUIET!; and Bruce's Big Move. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids and lots of pets.
Praise For…
"Higgins' illustrations combine scanned textures, graphite, ink, and Photoshop elements, and they feature a wonderfully diverse class that includes a girl in hijab, a tyke in glasses, and a boy wearing a kippah amid classmates of varying skin and hair colors and body types. Fans of macabre, tongue-in-cheek humor (and twist endings!) will enjoy time spent with Penelope."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[T]he bright colors and deceptively adorable dinosaurs make this a fun read rather than a scary one, with a hidden lesson about boundaries. Too much fun for a single read."—Booklist
"For the times when students struggle to understand one another and when impulse control needs a little strengthening, pair this winner with Mo Willems's Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct. An appealing read-aloud selection."—SLJ
"Higgins once again delivers sassy dialogue, flawless comic pacing, and faith in the ability of children to learn and grow."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Higgins ("Mother Bruce") knows how to make big, scary animals seem vulnerable, lovable and funny, adding a strategic touch of gross-out when our heroine spits her victims back up."—New York Times Book Reviews
PRAISE FOR BE QUIET!—Junior Library Guild Selection
“Higgins is back with a pitch-perfect tale of first-day jitters and unexpected empathy. Penelope, a pink-overall-clad T-rex, is exceptionally nervous about her first day of school. She’s so nervous that, after learning her classmates are all children, she eats them. Delicious! But Mrs. Noodleman is not amused. It isn’t until someone tries to make Penelope into a snack that she begins to understand just how her classmates feel. Penelope’s growing awareness of her classmates’ feelings is both adorable and relatable. Higgins’ charming illustrations and use of humor make Penelope’s story ideal for younger readers, especially as they transition into new experiences and social situations.”