Leon the Chameleon - Softcover

Mélanie Watt has often had bad dreams about Jaws, Dracula, and forgetting her homework and showing up to school dressed in her pajamas. She has written and illustrated Augustine, Chester, Chester's Back, Scaredy's many adventures and more. Mélanie is also afraid of vampire bats. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Ages 2-5. Other chameleons change color, blending into their environments, but Leon is a standout--literally: on a green leaf, he turns red; on yellow sand, he turns purple. He's embarrassed, lonely, and, lacking camouflage, sometimes frightened. He just wants to fit in. When Leon and some fellow chameleons become lost on an outing, however, he discovers being different can have unexpected advantages. Watt uses simple prose and basic vocabulary (aside from chameleon) to convey a familiar, supportive message, which is buttressed by artwork in vibrant, eye-popping primary and complementary colors, shaded for depth. Spare line drawings of chameleons and an expansive landscape minimize details, further emphasizing colors and contrasts. An endnote, accompanied by a color wheel, briefly explains primary and complementary colors. Consequently, this is not only a comforting tale about being special but also a visually effective choice for children just learning colors. Shelle Rosenfeld
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