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The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Wyatt Hill Brings a Lizard to School

By Eliot Schrefer

Illustrated by Kat Fajardo

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Meet the kids in Mrs. Z’s wacky and wonderful third-grade class! Wyatt Hill has a stepbrother with a lot of opinions, a stuffed lizard who knows everything Wyatt wants to say, and the beginnings of a voice that might end up surprising the whole school.

Nobody knows anything about Wyatt Hill. He’s the quiet giant of Mrs. Z’s class, sure . . . but his classmates wonder what is he like? What does he like? What does he do? (Does he play the ukelele?) And it often seems like his stepbrother and stepsister don’t get him either.

But Wyatt knows who he is. He adores his stuffed lizard, Lizzie, and the lively conversations they share. He notices who’s having a bad day and thinks about why the boys and girls in Mrs. Z’s class don’t play together at recess. He’s starting to put words down on paper to express all the things he feels inside.

And when quiet Wyatt decides to speak up, it just might cause a revolution—on the playground and at home.

Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Wyatt’s story invites readers into Mrs. Z’s class where friendship and fun rule the school, from New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer.

Perfect for!
★ My Weirdtastic School fans
★ Reluctant readers
★ Classroom read-alouds
★ Andrew Clements fans
★ Quiet kids
★ Lizard lovers
★ Aspiring writers

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

Praise for the Kids in Mrs. Z's Class Series

"Uplifting and encouraging." B>Kirkus Reviews

“[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: Mar 11, 2025
Page Count: 112 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781523530007

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Eliot Schrefer

About the Author

Eliot Schrefer is a New York Times bestselling author who has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. He also received the Stonewall Honor for best LGBTQIA+ teen book and a Printz Honor for best young adult book from the American Library Association. His science writing has appeared in Discover, Sierra, USA Today, Nautilus, and The Washington Post Magazine. He has an M.A. in animal studies from NYU, is on the faculty of Hamline University's MFA for Writing for Children and Young Adults, and lives with his husband in New York City. He invites you to visit him online at eliotschrefer.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.

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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.

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Eliot Schrefer

About the Author

Kat Fajardo

About the Illustrator

The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class