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The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Theo Chang Is Not a Cat

(Paperback)

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Publishing Details

Full Title:

The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Theo Chang Is Not a Cat

Contributors:

By (Author) Kate Messner
By (author) Mike Jung
Illustrated by Kat Fajardo

ISBN:

9781523532896

Publisher:

Workman Publishing

Imprint:

Workman Publishing

Publication Date:

13th January 2026

Country:

United States

Classifications

Readership:

Children

Fiction/Non-fiction:

Fiction

Other Subjects:

Childrens / Teenage fiction: School stories
Childrens / Teenage: Chapter books (transitional storybooks)

Dewey:

FIC

Physical Properties

Physical Format:

Paperback

Number of Pages:

128

Dimensions:

Width 152mm, Height 203mm

Description

Meet the kids in Mrs. Z s wacky and wonderful third grade class! Theo Chang is thrilled his family adopted a new cat, but the cat is less thrilled about his new home. Can Theo find a way to befriend the kitty before his family gives up and takes him back to the shelter Theo Chang loves Trainwhistle, his family's newly adopted cat. There's just one problem: Trainwhistle does not love Theo. Although he's a lovey-dovey lap cat with humans, Trainwhistle is very rough with other cats. And for some reason he clearly thinks Theo is another cat. Chased around the apartment and bitten on the ankle by the ferocious feline, Theo doesn't know what to do! Too embarrassed about getting beaten up by his own cat, Theo can't ask his best friend Memo for advice, but when his parents start talking about returning Trainwhistle to the shelter, he realizes time is running out. Can Theo convince Trainwhistle he's a boy, not a cat, before it's too late Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpre Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Theo Chang welcomes readers into Mrs. Z s class where friendship and fun rule the school, from author and librarian Mike Jung.Perfect for! My Weirdtastic School fans Reluctant readers Classroom read-alouds Andrew Clements fans Cat lovers! Read them all! The Kids in Mrs. Z s Class have plenty of stories to share! Emma McKenna, Full out (#1) Rohan Murthy Has a Plan (#2) Poppy Song Bakes a Way (#3) The Legend of Memo Castillo (#4) Wyatt Hill Brings a Lizard to School (#5) Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage (#6) Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7) available for preorder now! Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8) available for preorder now! Thunder Nelson Does the Impossumble (#10) available for preorder now! *The Kids in Mrs. Z s Class is an innovative series where every book is written by a different all-star author and features a different kid in the same third-grade class. They can be read in any order!

Reviews

Praise for the Kids in Mrs. Z's Class Series
"[A] wholesome read...buoyant."--Publishers Weekly
"Believable characters experiencing age-appropriate challenges: making new friends, navigating social groups, overcoming shyness, and dealing with embarrassment.... Share with fans of Annie Barrows' Ivy and Bean books or Sara Pennypacker's Clementine series."--Booklist
"Buy the book and the series. Kids need access to this diverse classroom of students who face everyday crises with their supportive friends, and this gentle read shows the goodness in the world without being overly sappy."--SLJ
"This new series is giving [Polk Street School] vibes. I absolutely love that each book is written by a different author and I love how diverse the classroom is. . . The great thing about [these] books is they showcase kids working together and supporting each other."--Teen Librarian Toolbox
"Uplifting and encouraging."--Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Mike Jung is the author of Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, Unidentified Suburban Object, and The Boys in the Back Row. He is a library professional by day and a writer and ukulele player by night, and he was a founding member of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks team. He lives in Oakland, California, with his family. He invites you to visit him online at mikejung.com.Kat Fajardo (they/she) received a Pura Belpre Honor for Illustration for their first graphic novel, Miss Quinces (published in Spanish as Srta. Quinces). Born and raised in New York City, Kat now lives in Austin, Texas, with their pups, Mac and Roni. They invite you to visit them at katfajardo.com.

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