We Don't Eat Our Classmates: questions to ask and activities to try
Penelope Rex is starting school, and her classmates are children, which are delicious. A very funny book about starting school, making friends and learning how others feel.
What age is We Don't Eat Our Classmates for?
We Don't Eat Our Classmates is best for ages 3–7.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates (Ryan T. Higgins)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Starting school, making friends, and seeing how others feel
Only 50pWe Don’t Eat Our Classmates activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Laugh at Penelope’s mistakes. Then talk about why the children were scared of her, and how the goldfish helped her understand.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- Penelope Rex is starting school, and her classmates are children, which are delicious. A very funny book about starting school, making friends and learning how others feel.
- Helps with
- Starting school, making friends, and seeing how others feel
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Starting school
- Making friends
- Understanding how others feel
- Self-control
Comprehension and discussion questions for We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Why was Penelope nervous about school?”
- “What did she do to her classmates?”
- “Why didn’t they want to play with her?”
- “What did Walter the goldfish do?”
- “How did she change after that?”
- “What could you do to make a new friend at school?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for We Don't Eat Our Classmates
All 6 questions for We Don't Eat Our Classmates on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
5-minute activities to try together
Friend plan
Think of three friendly things to say or do on the first day of school or a new club.
How would you feel?
Take turns describing a situation and guessing how someone in it would feel.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Friendship & Kindness bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Smartest Giant in TownSuperwormThe Day the Crayons QuitOi Frog!A Splendid Friend, IndeedAaaarrgghh, Spider!Big Box Little BoxBiscuit BearBlue ChameleonBlue PenguinColin and Lee, Carrot and PeaHanda's SurpriseHappy Birthday, MaisyHello, Friend!Iris and Isaac£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25We Don’t Eat Our Classmates + The Smartest Giant in Town + SuperwormThe 3 books:We Don’t Eat Our ClassmatesThe Smartest Giant in TownSuperworm£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
Priced low on purpose. Every purchase helps keep the book guides, questions and the game free for everyone.
No PayPal account needed. Your download starts straight away. By buying, you agree to this and give up the 14-day right to cancel. Faulty or missing files are always replaced or refunded. Refunds
Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to We Don't Eat Our Classmates, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about starting school.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Laugh at Penelope’s mistakes. Then talk about why the children were scared of her, and how the goldfish helped her understand.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Why was Penelope nervous about school?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Friend plan. Think of three friendly things to say or do on the first day of school or a new club. Children who finish early can try How would you feel?.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The We Don't Eat Our Classmates activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
And Tango Makes Three (Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and Henry Cole)
- Best for
- Different kinds of families, from a true penguin story
- Age
- 3-7
Croc and Bird (Alexis Deacon)
- Best for
- Brothers and sisters who are very different
- Age
- 3-7
The Day the Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers)
- Best for
- Seeing things from someone else's point of view
- Age
- 3-7
Search all our books by what's happening →
By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.