Carlson sweetens up the kindergarten counting theme with a clever plot featuring Henry the mouse from two previous preschool adventures. On the first day of kindergarten, the teacher tells the class she will add a jellybean a day to a jar, and when it's filled with 100 jellybeans, the class will have a party. Everyone will bring in 100 things for show and tell, and then they'll eat the candy. In February the special day arrives. Suzy brings in a 100-paper-clip chain; Tony brings a house made of 100 Popsicle sticks; Sydney brings marshmallows (only 98 because she ate two); and Henry brings in Great-Grandma Millie, who is 100 years old. Carlson's familiar animal characters are in crayon-bright colors that are just right for the jolly story. Use this with Joseph Slate's Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten (1998) and Rosemary Wells' Emily's First 100 Days of School (2000) to tally up an entertaining trio of grade-A lessons. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved