Chamelia

by Ethan Long, Samantha Berger (Read by)

Overview

Meet Chamelia, the irrepressible chameleon who doesn't like to blend in-for fans of spirited characters like Olivia and Fancy Nancy!

Most chameleons are famous for their amazing camouflage skills and prefer to fit in, but Chamelia the chameleon prefers to stand out. She just loves being the center of attention. But when standing out means being left out, can Chamelia learn to share the spotlight?

Ethan Long's zippy text and playful collages using high-fashion fabric patterns and textures to create a bright, friendly tale just right for young kids developing interpersonal skills in social settings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316210119
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	02/21/2012
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	AD440L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Ethan Long has illustrated a number of children's books including Stinky Feet Smell by Margie Palatini (Dutton, March 2003) and Oh Yeah! by Tom Birdseye.

Editorial Reviews

"Most chameleons like to blend in. But not Chamelia." With a wardrobe made up entirely of boldly patterned statement pieces, Chamelia definitely rocks the different drummer look. But her fierce individuality proves distracting when collective efforts are the order of the day—as when she dresses up as Cleopatra for a school play about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. With help from her parents, Chamelia learns that teamwork, whether on the soccer field or the choral risers, has its own rewards: "...standing out isn't the only way to feel special. Joining in can be just as fun!" Long (One Drowsy Dragon) puts his finger on an intriguing issue: how does one cope with the simultaneous yet polar pulls of individuality and belonging? Unfortunately, he resorts to tired turns of phrase ("When others zig... Chamelia zags") and forced chirpiness to deliver the story's lessons. His digitally collaged pictures, which are composed along a single, stagelike plane, have comic energy. But even so, Chamelia never emerges as much more than the sum total of her clothing choices. Ages 3–6. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Chamelia's fabulous frocks and cute obliviousness to her sometimes estranging individuality make her an endearing, original character."—Kirkus Reviews

"Long (One Drowsy Dragon) puts his finger on an intriguing issue: how does one cope with the simultaneous yet polar pulls of individuality and belonging?"—Publishers Weekly

"Will leave children talking about the rewards and challenges of being yourself."—Booklist

"This is a great story for reading aloud and for beginning readers."—Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

A headstrong little chameleon enjoys bucking the crowd until she learns moderation. Chamelia loves to stand out at school, while all the other chameleons happily blend in. They can't believe her crazy clothes: Who wears a leopard-print pillbox hat to lunch, a sequined shift dress for sports and a feathered helmet on scooter rides? Chamelia's fabulous frocks and cute obliviousness to her sometimes estranging individuality make her an endearing, original character. When self-expression causes Chamelia to let down classmates on the soccer field, in the choir and on the stage, her parents suggest that by working hard both you and your team can shine. Short sentences prompt children to look at facial expressions and illustrative details for plot development and humor. A striated collage of wild fabrics on the endpapers cues readers to look for more photographs of real fabric patterns in Chamelia's wardrobe. This clever incorporation of actual textiles, as busy and vibrant as Chamelia herself, invigorates intentionally muted illustrations—the other chameleons are all rendered in faded pastels, while Chamelia really pops. Readers might remark that Chamelia's immediate willingness to step out of the spotlight seems out of character, but then again, she is one unique lizard. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews