Penelope Rex: An Adorable Dino with an Adorable Series. Review
- MommaSaurus
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Penelope Rex Series by Ryan Higgins
Recommended Age: 3 and up
Penelope Rex is a series of 5 books (and one standalone) that feature and adorably t-rex named Penelope as she tries to make friends in her new, human only, school, joins a rock band, faces her fears, tames her first pet, and more!
We love this series! Penelope is just so cute and sweet and the books are beautifully illustrated! I highly recommend the entire series!
If Your Kids Like...
Dinosaurs
Books that model good behavior (being kind, being brave, etc.)
Beautifully illustrated picture books
Wholesome picture books
Possibly Concerning Content*
Children are eaten, but spit out
Penelope frequently mentions how delicious ponies are (might not be good for kids who love ponies).
Book 1: We Don't Eat Our Classmates
"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." - From Amazon
Book 2: We Will Rock 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?." - From Amazon
Book 3: We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish
"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.." - From Amazon
Book 4: The Problem With Pets
"Most kids have dogs and cats and fish and guinea pigs. Penelope Rex has Mittens.
Penelope wasn’t sure she even wanted a pet when Mittens came into her life. But now that he’s here, she is determined to make the best of it.
Pets, however—especially ones that are six hundred pounds with six-inch-long teeth—can cause very big, very messy problems. - From Amazon
Book 5: Vs. The New Kid
Releasing August 18th 2026
"Just when she has gotten used to being the only dinosaur in a class full of children, Penelope Rex is surprised to learn that the new kid is…a dinosaur just like her! Will the playground be big enough for the two of them?
Penelope Rex is the only dinosaur in her school and she likes it that way. But when a new kid joins her class, Penelope doesn’t know how to feel about it—because this new kid is another dinosaur! As she tries to welcome Patty Topps, Penelope is faced with some dino-size questions about standing out, fitting in, and what really makes her feel special.
Readers will root for Penelope as she navigates what it means to be one of a kind (even if she’s no longer the only kid in her class who is seven feet tall and covered in scales)." - From Amazon
Book 6: Bundle up, Penelope Rex!
"Penelope Rex wants to play in the snow. Her pet saber tooth cat wants to help her get ready.
Join Penelope and Mittens the saber tooth cat as they prepare to play in the snow in this cozy and funny wintertime entry in the Penelope Rex canon.." - From Amazon
📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
Have you and your kids read this yet? Want to add some P.C.C. we may have missed? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!
Don't forget to click on a tag below to find more books like this one!