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Description
Meet the kids in Mrs. Z's wacky and wonderful third grade class! Sebastian Metzger is overjoyed when he checks out a brand-new book on octopodes from the school library, but everything goes awry when the book gets ruined.
Sebastian Metzger loves learning new things, especially about animals. He's actually been experiencing many new things recently: third grade marks his first year living as a boy. Some things don't change, though. His imaginary friend, Jimothy the chipmunk, is always by his side!
When Sebastian spots a new book in the school library on octopodes, he just knows he has to check it out. The only problem is: this book is so new, the librarian hasn't even prepared it to be checked out! Sebastian promises to take great care of it, and the librarian makes an exception.
But when his little sister accidentally ruins the book, Sebastian is devastated. Will Sebastian find a way to save the library book and redeem himself?
Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Sebastian's story invites readers into Mrs. Z's class where friendship and fun rule the school, from award-winning author Kyle Lukoff.
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!
Publication date
March 10, 2026
Genre
Fiction
Page Count
120
ISBN-13
9780316594325
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series
The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class
BISAC categories
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books JUV002170 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Marine Life JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
Library of Congress categories
Fiction Libraries Books and reading Octopuses
School Library Journal
Starred Review
Empathetic, realistic fiction readers will love this tale and reach for more in the series. A heartwarming, uplifting, universally relatable tale for early chapter book readers...
Copyright 2026 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall. He has forthcoming books about mermaids, babies, apologies, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian. Hala Tahboub is a children's book writer and illustrator. She started her creative journey as an architect and interior designer. She won the SCBWI Canada East chapter's Storyteller Award for Illustration in 2019, and she was the SCBWI's December Featured Illustrator in 2020. Hala believes in kindness, coffee, chocolate, and in the immense power of stories. She lives in Montreal.
