Poonam, the smallest of the first graders, has hardly spoken above a whisper all semester. When the multiethnic class plans a pet assembly, no one dreams that she will have the most surprising entries of all. On the day of the event, the students arrive with cats, dogs, goldfish, and such, but Poonam is late. When she opens the door, the class and Mrs. Wig are shocked to see that six great lions follow her into the classroom. They are, of course, as perfectly well behaved as Poonam herself, performing tricks to the children's amazement. Finally, this small lion tamer finds the courage to address the whole class, offering them rides in the schoolyard aboard the golden cats.

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