Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct By Mo Willems

Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct By Mo Willems

Bibliography:

Willems, Mo. 2006. Edwina, the dinosaur who didn't know she was extinct. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

ISBN: 0786837489

Plot Summary: This story is about a dinosaur named Edwina who lives among humans. She plays with neighborhood kids, does favors for people, and is seen as very polite. Everyone loves her except a little boy named Reginald. Reginald thinks that he knows everything and has to tell people that he knows everything. So, one day he decides to tell his class that dinosaurs are extinct. However, all of his classmates question him about Edwina and he gets upset that no one believes him about dinosaurs. He then decides to tell the entire town that dinosaurs are extinct. He does this by making flyers and protesting, but no one listens to him until he comes across Edwina. He tries his hardest to convince Edwina that dinosaurs are extinct, and eventually does, but she doesn’t care, and in the end of the story neither does Reginald.

Critical Analysis: This text draws reader’s attention by the title of the story and beautifully illustrated cover. From the beginning of the text, we are introduced to Edwina, the main character in the story. She is loving, polite, helpful, and above all makes chocolate chip cookies for the town. However, there is one problem, how is a dinosaur living amongst the people in this town? Shouldn’t they be extinct? The townspeople do not see this, but a young boy named Reginald does. He is the classic know- it- all child who tries to persuade the townspeople that dinosaurs are extinct. They question him since Edwina is a member of their little town, but as any know-it-all child, he persists and makes flyers and protests about dinosaurs being extinct. Since no one will give him any attention, he begins to cry and sweet Edwina comes and listens to him. She becomes convinced that she is extinct. But, at the end of the story, she does not care, and after all of his persistence, neither does Reginald. This story is completely relatable to children and adults because, there is always that one person that has to know everything. This is a great book to teach different strategies about friendship and can also be used as an anchor text for a unit on persuasive text.

Throughout the book, the illustrations are bright and cheery and with the pastel color palate, the cartoon images jump off the page. The backdrop of the text is blue throughout the book and on some pages the images seem to jump off the page. The book also includes hidden images of some of Willems well known characters that children will be able to find when reading. In all, the bright cover with a Dinosaur is sure to draw in any reader.

Review Excerpts:

From Booklist -

• Willems takes a break from his Pigeon chronicles to write about a dinosaur named Edwina. Everyone loves Edwina, except class know-it-all Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie, who tries to convince everyone that dinosaurs are extinct. No one listens, except Edwina, who is shocked. Eventually Edwina decides that she doesn't care, "and by then . . . neither [does] Reginald." In true if-you-can't-beat-'em, join-'em fashion, the final scene shows Edwina baking cookies for a much happier Reginald. Pacing is varied to highlight the more dramatic scenes, with much of the drama provided by Reginald in a way resembling Pigeon trying to get his way. Set against plain, light-blue backdrops, the pictures, in Willem's familiar cartoon style, show Reginald up to his dastardly deeds as well as characters in the classroom, on the playground, and in the park. Children will have fun searching the art for hidden pictures of Pigeon and Knuffle Bunny. Consider this an enjoyable visit to a happy community that has no room for curmudgeons. Randall Enos

From School Library Journal

• Kindergarten-Grade 2–Edwina the dinosaur is known and loved throughout the town for her many acts of kindness and her excellent chocolate-chip cookies. The literal-minded class know-it-all, Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie, sets out to prove to everyone that dinosaurs are extinct. No one pays the slightest attention to him; ironically, only Edwina is convinced (not that she cares). In the end, as Reginald sits enjoying her cookies, he finds that he doesnt care either. Willemss expressive cartoon style makes the most of his fabled ability with line. Readers will enjoy Edwina in her straw hat, handbag, delicately painted claws, beribboned hat and simple strand of pearls, and especially her expression of utter shock when she realizes she is extinct. Aesthetically, this is neither as elegantly designed as Willemss Pigeon books (Hyperion) nor as bold a departure as his Knuffle Bunny (Hyperion, 2004), but it will nonetheless please the authors many fans. The added pleasure of finding Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon in the illustrations is an unexpected bonus.–Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT

Connections/Activities:

·         This book can be used in a persuasive text unit.

·         This book can be used when discussing friendship and making good choices.

·         Have students make inferences about Edwina and Reginald.

·          Use the book for creative writing activities/ readers response. For example: Have students pretend that they are Edwina, would they react the same way if they found out they were extinct?

·         Explore Cause and Effect relationships within the text.

·         Have students sequence the events in the story and create a story map.

·         Have students write about and/or discuss character changes within the story.

·         Have students participate in a role-playing activity to see how it feels when people act like they know it all, and discuss feeling associated with this behavior.

·         Select other books by Mo Willems

o   Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale - 0786818700

o   Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – 078681988X

o   Leonardo the Terrible Monster – 0786852941

o   Waiting is not easy –  142319957X

·         Related Texts

o   Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs as retold by Mo Willems – 0062104187

o   Time to Say Please By Mo Willems – 0786852933

o   How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague - 043985654X

Personal Connections:

I remember reading this story to elementary students when I was in the Ready Set Teach program in High School. It holds a lot of memories for me because; this is when I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. I think that this is a great story to share with students. When reading it, students are able to make multiple connections and draw on their personal experiences. I especially like reading this story when discussing persuasive texts, and my students really enjoy listening to it as well. I think that it is a staple that should be in every elementary classroom library.