We Will Rock Our Classmates

Penelope Rex #2

by Ryan T. Higgins

Readers will twist and shout for this headbanging companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling We Don't Eat Our Classmates.

Penelope is a T. rex, and she's very good at it. She also likes to rock out on guitar! With the school talent show coming up, Penelope can't wait to perform for her classmates. But sharing who you are can be show-stoppingly scary, especially when it's not what people expect. Will Penelope get by with a little help from her friends?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dinosaurs, Humor, Music, School, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 1st book in this series, 'We do not eat our classmates' and it was so funny. I loved it. When I saw there was another book, I was excited to read this book. It's a good story with heart, yet the 1st book was better. This gets a 4 star.

It was still funny and cute and Penelope does rock. The artwork is amazing and fun. Anyone young child will be captivated by the story, I would guess, especially those who love dinosaurs.

The story deals with fitting in with peers and overcoming fears to do what we love. Penelope has some stage fright she has to get over. My favorite part is Walter the ferocious goldfish. He does look ferocious and I love the idea of a dinosaur being scared of a goldfish. Another funny was Penelope loves to draw and she's trying to draw a deer who is terrified and running from her and she is saying, I don't even have any mustard, I just want to draw you, or something to that effect. I guffawed.

I have a hunch that a few years ago, my nephew would have loved this story. He was into dinosaurs too, not like robots. He might still enjoy it. Who knows.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each year my family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books. We Will Rock Our Classmates written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins is book #16 (of 20) for 2020. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates was the first in this series featuring Penelope the T Rex that joins a group of humans in school, and was a GR nominated picturebook in 2018. As a family we felt similarly about both of them: We really liked them both and thought they were funny. This might have been our favorite book of the (weak crowd) nominees, though it did not make it to the final ten.

“Mmm. Ponies!”

Hank (14): 4 stars. It was funny!!

Harry (15): 4.5 stars. So funny!! One of the best books of the year so far [4 left to read]. Great story!

Tara: 4 stars. Pretty cute. Kind of funny.

Dave: Old enough to know better. 4 stars. This is one of the rare nominees this year that really “gets” kids, written for them and not for parents or for some social purpose. Just for laughs, basically. When the kids invite Penelope to play a game, like cops and robbers she says s he really wants to play dentist. Funny, right? When a deer runs from her, she says “Wait! I won’t eat you! I don’t have any mustard!” She wants to be in a rock band but she can’t sing or play an instrument; she’s so depressed her parents worry, “Honey, are you sure you’ve had enough to eat? You’ve only had 52 burgers!” So for school talent night, one kid does animal sounds, another card tricks, one group synchronized swimming mimes, but against all odds, , , Penelope and the group (spoiler alert) rock their classmates! Yay!!

[Chasity · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are fun. Not matter what the dinosaur classmate is doing (or not doing) we get to experience it with them.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, kids who loved the first book, We Don't Eat our Classmates about Penelope T. Rex will love this one too! As will the adults who enjoyed the humor in Ryan T. Higgins's other works like Mother Bruce.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penelope is back! Our little T. rex, who we first met in We Don't Eat Our Classmates, learned to befriend and play with her fellow students instead of eating them. Now she wants to rock them!

A talent show at school has Penelope super nervous. She loves making music, but can she get up in front of everyone and play? Doubts begin to weigh Penelope down. Plus all her classmates seem to see her as only a dinosaur. What else can she do and be? Her friends know Penelope can eat them, but can dinosaurs really rock? You bet they can! Penelope will show them all.

“Being a T. rex is only part of who you are.”

This sweet story shares some big messages that need to be shouted out there for all to hear again and again. Like …we can do anything! Or don’t let anyone set limits on what you can do in life. And never ever let anyone else define you. Be yourself and follow your dreams! I LOVE those ideas. And I love seeing them in print for young readers to take to heart.

The BIG in your face pictures and words are so bright and clear. You just want to eat them up! Humor and heart and huge smiles fill the pages. Penelope’s smile alone can light up a room! She does have a lot of teeth after all. :)

Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it's hard for others to see beyond our labels. It can be hard to get others to see us for ourselves too. Penelope knows this. She is a dinosaur living among humans, so a talent show is just what she needs. Penelope braves the intimidating roadblock that is "Walter the ferocious goldfish" is an intimidating roadblock, but even after signing up, doubts plague her until she pulls out. Only after speaking to her dad to she reverse her reversed decision. With his usual blend of humour, expressive designs, and concise writing, Higgins embeds an important lesson to his engaging and relatable story. Penelope is a dinosaur, but she is also so much more. Once she realizes that, she rocks it!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially loved the double-page spread in which T-Rex Penelope is peeking through the curtains at the school talent show "to try and find her parents." The audience has dozens of small humans and two ginormous dinosaurs! Very funny.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Will Rock Our Classmates is just as cute as We Don't Eat Our Classmates . This time, Penelope the T. rex is getting ready for the school talent show. But when it comes time to rehearse, she freezes and loses all her confidence. She's just a T. rex, after all, and they don't rock 'n' roll.

Or do they?

With some reassurance from her dad, Penelope comes to value herself and realize that, even though she's a T. rex, she's a lot of other wonderful things as well.

The pictures are adorable. Higgins has created a character that readers will empathize with and want to cheer for. The same touches of humour that lit up the first book can also be found here.

I'd recommend this one to readers who enjoyed the first book about Penelope, as well as those who are looking for empowering books about having faith in yourself and your talents... whatever they might be.

Quotable moment:

[melhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't love this as much as We Don't Eat Our Classmates (which I've reviewed here) but I think I'll still consider it as one of my favourite picture books of all time.

We Will Rock Our Classmates had all the humour and cuteness that I loved from the first book. I also absolutely loved the illustrations and how Penelope overcame her stage freight at the school talent show and how she learned to accept her identity (as being more than just a dinosaur).

Honestly, I'm a bit bummed this book didn't make it to the final round of the GR nominations...

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is We Will Rock Our Classmates as good as We Don't Eat Our Classmates? Of course not! We Don't Eat Our Classmates is the best and most hilarious children's book of all time. No way to compete with that. That said, readers, young and old, will adore We Will Rock Our Classmates. There are some inside jokes for those who read the first Penelope book, but those who haven't will still love this clever, funny sequel.

Also kudos to author Ryan Higgins for drawing the most inclusive, fun class ever.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope is STILL the most adorable thing ever! Definitely going to be recommending this one a lot at the bookstore.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The spotlight can be harsh, even for bonafide rock stars.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sometimes hate it when a runaway popular book puts out sequel after sequel. But sometimes the author just nails it. I love the message about not letting being who you are keep you from doing what you love. I love the weird humor. I love the expressions on the forest creatures running away from Penelope. So fun.

[Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title ⤵️
We Will Rock Our Classmates

Author ⤵️
Ryan T. Higgins

Rating ⤵️
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thoughts ⤵️
A hilarious joy-ride.

[msfox_librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books featuring Penelope Rex and so do my elementary school students!

[whomst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very cute.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annual Goodreads Choice Awards reading project: Read all the Picture Book nominees! (18 of 20)

Cute and humorous story about stage fright and delicious, yummy ponies. Carnivores represent!

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful romp with a tender message about not limiting yourself to one quality, characteristic, or way of being. I hope to read many more adventure stories about Penelope.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute adventure with Penelope

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite line: "Have you been flossing? William Omoto's backpack is stuck in your teeth."

Penelope Rex is precious!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookaday #74. Not quite as cute as the first one, there is still a lot of fun and heart with Penelope Rex and the kids of Mrs. Noodle Man’s kindergarten class. Can’t wait to read print version, although the read along version is very engaging!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penelope the dinosaur is back! This time, she’s working through some self-doubt around her abilities. With her fellow kindergarten class, she overcomes her fears. This is an adorable and funny book. Both kids and adult will enjoy this book.

[Maryalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many children, Penelope loves to do a lot of things. She loves to play, read, and draw, but more than anything Penelope loves to make music. Specifically, she loves to rock 'n' roll. When Mrs. Noodleman announces a school talent show, Penelope feels both excited and nervous. Penelope swallows her fear and signs up, but when it comes time for the rehearsal, Penelope freezes. A heart to heart and trip down memory lane with her dad is just the remedy Penelope needs to find her courage, but her classmates have another idea to help Penelope. Even Walter the ferocious goldfish plays a part.

THOUGHTS: This followup to We Don't Eat Our Classmates is sure to be loved by fans of Higgins' work, and children will delight with the humorous story. A must have for elementary collections, social emotional learning lessons, or read alouds. You'll have difficulty reading this one without giggling yourself! 

[Abby Johnson]

Penelope the T-Rex is back in this second book that's just as great as the first book. When her class puts on a talent show, Penelope is so excited to rock out and wow everyone with her rock & roll skills, but when she overhears a classmate saying that dinosaurs can't rock & roll, she loses her nerve. Can Penelope prove them wrong?

This is a funny take on a school story and it approaches microaggressions in a kid-friendly way. Penelope is the only dinosaur at her school, so when her classmates play games, she hears things like "Want to play cops and dinosaurs? You can be the dinosaur" etc. When Penelope loses confidence in her performance skills because she's never seen a dinosaur rock star, her father shows her the family photo album filled with T-Rexes that have done all kinds of amazing things.

Of course, it's Ryan T. Higgins, so there are all kinds of cute and funny details in the illustrations. This one's a winner.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good follow up to We Don't Eat Our Classmates. Students will enjoy talking about their own talents, and how having friends helps you overcome fears.

AND this fits very well with personal characteristics and strengths.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmm, ponies!

[Trish Banda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a problem with this book. The pictures are adorable but the moral of the story is wrong.

Penelope, the dinosaur, was told she could be anything that she wants to be and she wants to be a rockstar BUT she can’t sing, or play guitar (which is what she would be doing in her band). The author doesn’t mention anything about practicing or working hard. You can’t be a rockstar if you can’t sing or play an instrument.

Don’t tell children they can be anything they want to be without explaining that you have to work on the very skills that will help them achieve that goal.

I really wish the author showed and added the part where she practices and practices and practices. Now she is a rock star!

Kids, especially kids now don’t know about grit. Things come instantly to them. They need to understand that you have to spend lots and lots of time on something to achieve and earn “2nd place.” You can’t just want it really bad and have a group of people who support you.

👍🏾 I do like that the author tried to show that she was more than what she appeared to be. Penelope is not just a dinosaur. She can be more than that.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Penelope the T.Rex? Now she wants to show off her skills and be a rock star in front of her peers, especially because all she's ever heard is that she's "just a dinosaur". So she has to approach the mean fish (love this page) and sign up. She hesitates and crosses it off again. And then returns with a razzle dazzle performance to show off how to rock.

The underlying message of perseverance and being what you want coupled with the ideas of friendship and allowing people (or T.Rex's to grow) is a superb message.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title appeals to me more than the book. Yay, have courage to share your talents. I was hoping for more.

Reviews are subjective because of personal experience. Mine: A few months ago there was a Jack Black video on Instagram "The Five Needs" where Jack says, "I really want to rock your world. It comes before food!" among what matters. So yeah, I was hoping this little dinosaur, who has been challenged to not eat her classmates in a previous book, would realize that "rocking" her classmates is better than eating them. That is not this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have goosebumps! I wasn't expecting to love this book so much! Yes, there's a straightforward story line here with a great message about teamwork and showing off your talents... with a few very funny dinosaur jokes thrown in ... but there are subtle signals acknowledging social pressures, inner emotions and compassionate families. It's a winner from start to finish. Highly recommended for your home or school library!