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Meet the kids in Mrs. Z’s wacky and wonderful third-grade class! Rohan Murphy has an ambitious dream to launch his own pet care business, but when he starts small by babysitting the class guinea pig, he makes big mistakes.

Rohan Murthy dreams of running a successful business—just like his mom, who’s an artist. When Mrs. Z announces that Curiosity Academy needs to raise money for a school garden, Rohan knows it’s the perfect moment to launch his dreams! He’ll start a pet care company to help the people of Peppermint Falls look after their dogs, hamsters, fish, snakes, lizards . . . anything but cats. With hard work, some glittery posters, and the help of his friends from Mrs. Z’s class, Rohan knows he can do a lot for the school garden.

His parents point out just one small problem: Rohan has never taken care of an animal before. Gulp!

To get some experience with pets, Rohan volunteers to spend a weekend watching over Honey, the class guinea pig. But Honey appears surprisingly fearful, which makes Rohan nervous too! When his big dreams meet his secret fears, what will Rohan decide?

Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Rohan’s story invites readers into Mrs. Z’s class where friendship and fun rule the school, from Newbery Honor-winning author Rajani LaRocca.

Perfect for!
★ My Weirdtastic School fans
★ Reluctant readers
★ Classroom read-alouds
★ Andrew Clements fans
★ Pet lovers
★ Aspiring business owners

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) — available for preorder now!
Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage (#6) — available for preorder now!
Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7) — available for preorder now!
Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8) — 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!

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The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class

"Quietly uplifting and encouraging."
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for the Kids in Mrs. Z's Class Series

“[A] wholesome read…buoyant.” B>Publishers Weekly

“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

"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." B>Booklist

"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

On Sale: Apr 30, 2024
Page Count: 128 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781523526598

Teaching & Discussion Guide

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Rajani LaRocca

About the Author

Rajani LaRocca is a physician and an author of books for young readers, such as Midsummer’s Mayhem and Summer Is for Cousins. She received a Newbery Honor for her novel Red, White, and Whole. Rajani was born in Bangalore, India, immigrated to the United States when she was very young, and became a naturalized citizen of the United States at the age of fifteen. She now lives in eastern Massachusetts with her family. She invites you to visit her online at rajanilarocca.com.

Huy Voun Lee arrived in New York City as a Cambodian refugee at the age of six. She quickly developed a lifelong love for art and origami, both of which influence her colorful cut-paper style. Huy has written and illustrated many books for children, including Like a Dandelion, which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and a CCBC Choice. She lives in New York City with her family.

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Kat Fajardo

About the Illustrator

Kat Fajardo is an award-winning comic artist and illustrator based in NYC. A graduate of The School of Visual Arts, she’s editor of La Raza Anthology and creator of Bandida Comics series. She’s made work for Penguin Random House on The First Rule of Punk (written by Celia C. Pérez), CollegeHumor, and several anthologies. You can find her working at her Brooklyn studio creating playful and colorful work about self-acceptance and Latinx culture. Or drooling over puppies at a cafe.

Learn more about this illustrator