We Don't Eat Our Classmates
A lovably impulsive T-Rex named Penelope keeps accidentally eating her classmates on the first day of school, and only learns empathy when the class goldfish bites her finger. The humor is gloriously silly and the heart is genuine, making it a warm, funny pick for back-to-school season.
A wonderful read-aloud for preschoolers and kindergartners, especially around the first day of school.
Chapters to know about
Penelope's cheeks puff out as she eats several classmates; the teacher orders her to spit them out, and the kids reappear on the rug dripping with cartoon saliva — gross and funny rather than frightening.
Penelope puts her finger into Walter the goldfish's bowl to say hello; he bites it and her finger ends up bandaged — the moment is played for comedy and is the book's key empathy turning point.
Penelope comes home sad because she made no friends; her dad gently asks whether she ate them again — a warm, funny moment that also opens a natural conversation about loneliness and impulse control.