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

By Mike Jung

Illustrated by Kat Fajardo

Introduction by Kate Messner

$14.99

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Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $14.99
Hardcover $16.99 $22.99 CAD
Trade Paperback $6.99 $9.99 CAD

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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 Belpré 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’s Best Friend Is a Lizard (#5) — available for preorder now!
Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage (#6) — available for preorder now!
Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7) — coming soon!
Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8) — coming soon!
Thunder Nelson and the Impossumble Dream (#10) — coming soon!

*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!

Genre:

Series:

The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class

Praise for the Kids in Mrs. Z's Class Series
"Uplifting and encouraging."
Kirkus Reviews
“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."
Booklist
“[A] wholesome read…buoyant."
Publishers Weekly
"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: Nov 4, 2025
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ISBN-13: 9781668651742

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Mike Jung

About the Author

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 Belpré 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.

Learn more about this author

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