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

Bibliography

Willems, Mo. 2006. EDWINA, THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT. Ill. by Mo Willems. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9780786837489

Plot Summary

From the very first page of this charming picture book written by award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems, we are introduced to Edwina, a warm and friendly dinosaur who has captivated the hearts of everyone in town.  It seems as though there is nothing she cannot do.  Not only is she useful for helping reach high places, she also enjoys playing with kids, assisting “little old ladies” across the street, and baking delicious chocolate-chip cookies for everyone in town!  Edwina is adored by everyone – everyone, that is, except for a little boy named Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie.  Reginald is a young man who knows “just about everything about just about everything,” and he’s not afraid to share his knowledge with those around him.  Being somewhat of an expert on dinosaurs, Reginald decides that it is his duty to inform the rest of his community about the fact that dinosaurs are extinct.  However, nothing Reginald does seems to change anyone’s opinion about Edwina and he begins to feel increasingly frustrated because no one will listen to anything he has to say.  When Edwina notices how upset Reginald is, she offers to listen to him.  Little does she know that he is going to tell her the truth about dinosaurs.  Despite feeling shocked when she first hears the news, Edwina decides that she is not troubled in the least by this surprising information.  Once Reginald has finally shared what had been bothering him for so long, suddenly he realizes the fact that Edwina is a dinosaur is no longer as important to him as it had once been.

Critical Analysis

After taking a quick glance at the clever title of this picture book, I immediately knew that this story was sure to be just as entertaining as the many other stories that Mo Willems has become known for in the world of children's literature.  The tale of Edwina, a dinosaur who enjoys living in a town full of people who adore her despite the obvious fact that she is quite different from everyone else, is a fun and fanciful story that is sure to make readers chuckle with amusement at the townspeople's apparent lack of concern.  The fact that Edwina is a very large, green dinosaur does not seem to worry anyone in the least - after all, she has clearly proven time and again that she is a caring, thoughtful citizen in her community.  Even the smallest details of Edwina's appearance invite the reader to welcome her just as the townspeople do - her delicately painted nails, her sweet pearl necklace, and her pleasant smile make us feel as though she is an old friend we've known for years.  


However, in spite of the engaging story of a gentle dinosaur discovering the truth about herself, the animated cartoon style found in every illustration are this book's true rewards.  The strategic use of lines and soft yet distinct colors help to express each character's emotion at various points throughout the story.  Whether it's the joy that Edwina brings into the lives of those around her through her famous chocolate-chip cookies, or the gradual irritation that finally explodes into Reginald's emotional outburst after unsuccessfully trying to make his voice heard, Mo Willems has perfected the art of designing facial expressions that flawlessly portray what each character is truly feeling.  The colorful, full page illustrations naturally combine with the smaller black and white pictures to create a children's book that never becomes old.  One can read this story again and again, each time discovering a new detail in the meticulous illustrations they may not have noticed the time before.  Children will also delight in finding a few familiar faces hidden throughout the illustrations, as Mo Willems decides to have Pigeon and Knuffle Bunny stop by for a visit in Edwina's happy community.

Awards

• Child Magazine Best Children’s Book Award 2006
• National Parenting Publications Awards Gold Medal Award Winner
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Book Platinum Award Winner
• Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year 2007
• Book Sense 76 Pick

Review Excerpts

“Buoyant pastel cartoons show how Edwina’s big-hearted ways (she helps old ladies cross the street and listens to the boy when no one else will) made a believer out of Reginald.” – Child Magazine

“Willems’s 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 utter shock when she realizes she is extinct.” – School Library Journal

“A muted palette and two-dimensional backgrounds firmly situate Willems’s cartoons in an imaginary world of childhood, Edwina herself a masterful creation complete with hat, pearls and handbag, Reginald and the other humans Feiffer-esque in the expressiveness of their body language…a tribute to the child’s rock-solid faith in how the world should be, not how it really is.” – Kirkus Reviews

“These documentary-style pages allow Reginald’s frenetic, moody expressivism to take center stage even while they emphasize the pale futility of his endeavors.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Willems’s funny text and cartoon illustrations convey Reginald’s mounting frustration with everyone’s refusal to accept his argument as well as just how much Edwina means to the townspeople, who are untroubled by logical inconsistencies.  Willems also gives readers permission to accept this inconsistency, because even though of course dinosaurs are extinct, it really doesn’t matter in the book’s silly-fun fictional world.” – The Horn Book

Connections

After reading this picture book aloud, children may want to research the history of dinosaurs to see if they can discover exactly when dinosaurs became extinct.  This research could ultimately turn into a complete unit of study about dinosaurs.

Gather several other books that are written and illustrated by Mo Willems and have children compare/contrast the characters of Edwina and Reginald with other important characters he has created.  Are his characters similar in the way they express emotion?  Mo Willems is known for creating characters with strong personalities.  How do his illustrations convey these distinctive personalities?  Children can also investigate the various ways in which Willems conveys humor throughout his stories.  Does he accomplish this only through his illustrations, or through the dialogue and pacing as well?

During this story, Reginald is determined to prove a point.  In order to do this, he tries a variety of different things, including passing out flyers and protesting in the middle of the town.  Using these ideas as a starting point, discuss the idea of "freedom of speech" and what this freedom means in our country.  Once this concept has been discussed in more detail, children can brainstorm other ideas that Reginald could have used to share what he wanted to say (a few examples could include writing an article for the local newspaper or speaking at town meetings, depending on the ages of the kids).