Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage

By Kekla Magoon

Meet the kids in Mrs. Z's wacky and wonderful third-grade class Ayana Ndoum, who prefers blending into the background, will have to take center stage for the class variety show--but it's hard to concentrate on her talent when her embarrassing dad is volunteering at school, too

Mrs. Z's class is holding a variety show, and everyone has signed up to demonstrate their special skills Everyone, that is, except Ayana Ndoum. She's good at reading, but someone's already reciting a poem. She's good at synchronized swimming, but they can't get a pool onstage. What could her act be?

Before she can figure it out, she has an even bigger problem to deal with: Why is her dad at school?

Turns out her dad is a variety show volunteer He talks to everyone and asks too many questions. It's embarrassing for Ayana, who likes to be quiet and help from the sidelines. With her dad taking up the spotlight, will she ever find her own way to shine?

Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpr Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Ayana's story invites readers into Mrs. Z's class where friendship and fun rule the school, from award-winning author Kekla Magoon.

Perfect for
★ My Weirdtastic School fans
★ Reluctant readers
★ Classroom read-alouds
★ Andrew Clements fans
★ Quiet kids
★ Anyone who's ever been embarrassed by a parent

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)
Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage (#6)
Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7)
Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8)
Theo Chang is Not a Cat (#9)
Thunder Nelson Does the Impossumble (#10)
Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation (#11) -- available for preorder now
Fia Hosein Finds Her Beat (#12) -- 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

• Format: Library Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GN2JYW2F
• ISBN13: 9798855178012
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books
• Length: 110 Pages
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4