We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish (Penelope Rex Series #3)

by Ryan T. Higgins, Ryan T. Higgins (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Penelope Rex faces her biggest fear — Walter the goldfish — in the latest picture book from New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins. We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish has all the classic charm and wit of a Ryan Higgins story and one that's surely to be favorite from every classroom, bedroom and bookstore across the country.

Penelope Rex faces her biggest (and fishiest) fear in this companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins.

Penelope Rex has one fear: Walter, the class goldfish. So when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids that they'll be taking turns bringing Walter home, Penelope gets carried away by her anxious imagination. The weekend has a rocky start—from Walter ominously licking his lips to a sleepless night where the fish's bowl appears to move closer and closer to Penelope's bed. But then Walter goes missing! Penelope must face her fear to find him and realizes along the way that there's more to Walter than his chomping jaws.

Join Penelope Rex in her other adventures:

• We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
• We Will Rock Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368076982
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/28/2023
Series:	Penelope Rex Series , #3
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	37,232
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

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. In addition to the Mother Bruce series, Ryan is also the author and illustrator of Norman Didn’t Do It!, We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, We Will Rock Our Classmates, BE QUIET!, and What About Worms!?, an Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! book. He lives in Maine with his wife, three children, and a menagerie of pets

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR WE WILL ROCK OUR CLASSMATES

A thoughtful and humorous story. Penelope’s latest adventure is a welcome addition for young readers and a suggested first purchase for all libraries.—School Library Journal (starred review)

PRAISE FOR WE WILL ROCK OUR CLASSMATES

Higgins perfectly captures Penelope’s seesawing emotions, the highest highs and the lowest lows.—Kirkus (starred review)

From the Publisher

12/09/2022

PreS-Gr 2—Everyone's favorite tyrannosaurs, Penelope Rex, is back for her third outing. Having learned not to eat her classmates and how to rock the talent show, this latest adventure sees Penelope taking her turn to host the class pet, Walter the goldfish, at home. Even though she is the only dinosaur in school, Penelope has big feelings just like her classmates. There are a number of things that make Penelope feel scared, with Walter chief among them. When it is finally Penelope's turn to take the goldfish home, all she can see are his menacing fins, unblinky eyes, and bitey teeth. However, when Walter goes missing, Penelope summons all her courage and, in the process, discovers that maybe Walter isn't so bad after all. As in previous titles, Higgins employs comical dialogue, impeccable pacing, a surprise ending, and a superb message of support to young readers that validates their feelings and offers encouragement to confront what frightens them. Pair with Is This Your Class Pet? by Troy Cummings for double the class pet fun. VERDICT Another hugely successful outing with Penelope and highly recommended for purchase.—Olivia Gorecke

School Library Journal

2023-04-06
You’d think a T. rex wouldn’t be afraid of anything. You’d be wrong.

In her latest outing, Penelope Rex is terrified of Walter, the class goldfish. One might suppose a goldfish would be petrified of her, a large dinosaur with a disproportionately sized head. Penelope has reasons to be frightened, though: Walter is “bitey” (Penelope’s discovered this firsthand—literally) and has “menacing fins” and “unblinky eyes.” Unfortunately, her teacher announces that each student will have a chance to care for Walter over a weekend. When Penelope’s turn arrives, she strives to make the best of it, including Walter in her usual activities and attempting to distract him (and herself). After a few peculiarities—weird nighttime noises and a broken lamp—Walter disappears; the ensuing search leads to a complete overhaul of Penelope’s feelings for her nemesis. Following Walter’s subsequent reappearance, the rest of the weekend goes swimmingly, and Penelope’s parents have a big surprise for her. We don’t lose a class pet, but we gain a humorous, relatable story about taking dinosaur-sized pride in overcoming fears. Kids have anxieties, and this tale makes them recognizable—and a little less frightening. The lively, comical illustrations, created with graphite, ink, Photoshop, and scans of treated clayboard for textures, are appealing; Penelope is most expressive, her oversized head and large, dewy eyes emphasizing her winsome vulnerability. Penelope’s human classmates are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A resonant tale of gaining self-esteem by conquering what seems scary. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews