Henry, the endearing mouse of Carlson's Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! (1999), loves most parts of kindergarten, like learning his letters, singing songs, painting pictures, and playing games. But the one thing Henry does not like is show-and-tell. Luckily his perceptive teacher has some helpful advice: "Bring something that's fun for you to talk about." Taking these words to heart, Henry decides to bring his pet lizard. Rehearsing his spiel helps chase away Henry's jitters, but they are also greatly reduced by the comic relief of having his lizard escape just prior to his presentation. The story tackles public-speaking fears in an ideal way for very young children, offering up a realistic method of dealing with a common anxiety and a bit of humor to put it all into perspective. As usual, Carlson's bright, humorous gouache illustrations add an extra dose of fun. Terry Glover Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved