It’s Matthew’s turn to share at show-and-tell, but he can’t think of a thing to say. Suddenly, he finds himself telling the class that he has a pet lion that sleeps at the foot of his bed. Everyone—even his teacher—wants to know more. In the days that follow, Matthew embellishes his story. He describes the lion, Larry, in detail, and tells the class what Larry eats and how much he’s growing. Matthew is also careful to come up with reasons the lion is too busy for visitors. Eventually, though, Matthew realizes he can’t keep his secret any longer, so he turns to his mother for advice. She encourages him to tell the truth, and Matthew comes up with a way to make everyone happy: He’ll write down Larry’s story, illustrate it with his own drawings and share it with his friends at show-and-tell. Glowing chalk pastel pictures complement the text, and Matthew’s story ends on a comforting note that perfectly embodies the importance of creativity, honesty and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-6)
