  | Sebastian Metzger solves a sticky situation (Kids In Mrs. Z's Class) Author: Lukoff, Kyle | |
| Price: $15.23 | ||
Summary:
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 is ruined with sticky fruit punch.
| Illustrator: | Fajardo, Kat |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (03/20/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/20/2026 Gr 2–4—Messner's series builds on Mrs. Z's class with this new addition by award-winning author Lukoff. Sebastian is a transgender boy in Mrs. Z's third grade class with lots of big thoughts and imagination. He loves books and is a fan of library class. His school librarian lets him borrow a brand-new book on octopi, but it gets damaged, and Sebastian's family can't afford to replace it. This can be read as a standalone in the series. It explores gender identity, single-parent households, and financial challenges in an accessible way for readers of this age. Sebastian is surrounded by exemplary supportive adults throughout who help him process big feelings by meeting him with grace. 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 with short chapters and great spacing and margins. Illustrator Fajardo contributes one grayscale cartoon-style digital illustration per chapter with great attention toward expression to match Sebastian's range of feelings. Sebastian is depicted as white and students in Mrs. Z's class are all distinct with a variety of skin tones and hair styles. VERDICT A must-purchase for creating mirrors and doors in this highly relatable entry to the series.—Taylor Skorski - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
