Leon the Chameleon
illustrated by Melanie Watt
- Short-listed, Young Adults' Choices, International Reading Association
- Short-listed, Book of the Year Award, ForeWord Magazine
- Winner, Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
- Runner-up, International Book Award, The Society of School Librarians International
Leon the chameleon has a problem. When the other little chameleons turn green, yellow or blue â” he turns red, purple or orange! Leon doesn’t turn the opposite color on purpose. He just can’t help it. Being different makes Leon feel lonely.
One day, the little chameleons go exploring and lose their way. As the parents anxiously search for their little ones, they suddenly spot a speck of color far off in the distance. It’s Leon! And thanks to his brilliant hue, the little chameleons are rescued. This time, being different makes Leon feel proud!
Leon the Chameleon is a charming story that also explores the basic elements of color. At the end of the book, a color wheel displays primary colors and their complementary hues.
close this panelWatt debuts with a simple tale that is partly a celebration of physical differences and partly a lesson in color theory. Bright hues and simple shapes lend plenty of visual appeal to the illustrations, especially when the entire double-paged spread is one color (green, for instance) and Leon stands out like a sore thumb. These are the purest colors, too, strong and clear, a plus compared to what is often found in books on color.
Watt’s use of primary colors and bold black outlines makes this a good choice for storytimes â¦
Young children will enjoy the brightly hued cartoon illustrations and will understand the message about appreciating differences.
⦠this is not only a comforting tale about being special but also a visually effective choice for children just learning colors.
