Review: Sweet and colourful picture book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 13, 2013
The Colourblind Chameleon is a bright, colourful rhyming picture book featuring a most unusual chameleon who does not do what is expected of chameleons; that is, to change colours to match his environment. When this chameleon changes colour, the result is that he stands out rather than blend in! For example, instead of blending into the dark at night, this chameleon “lights up the night as bright as the sun.” Realizing that he is in danger, he begins a journey to find a place where his bright colours will go unnoticed and he will feel at home with his surroundings. You’ll have to read the book to discover where the chameleon finally calls home.I love the basic concept and the underlying message of the story. When we are introduced to the chameleon, we learn that he is colourblind. That is, he perceives his environment differently from the rest of the chameleons thus changes to unusual colours and patterns. I thought this was very clever and amusing and I think children will think it is silly to see this chameleon stand out like a sore thumb. But, importantly, he does eventually find an environment more suited to his unusual and expected colour changes. This reinforces the lesson that we need to stay true to ourselves, and that with patience and perseverance, we can all find a place in the world.This book provides a very entertaining introduction to the basic characteristics of a chameleon. For example, the book explains that chameleons change colours to match their environment, and goes on to describe how our little chameleon was in danger from predators because he was making himself stand out with his strange colour changes. My only question mark with regards to the educational value of the book is that there is at least two animals portrayed that do not co-exist with chameleons in the Amazon (i.e., the setting of the story): bears and elephants. Of course, this could be a discussion point for parents or teachers to highlight (i.e., Which of the animals in the story would you find in the Amazon jungle?).The illustrations by Sarah Ray are bright, colourful, and filled with whimsy. They remind me of Sandra Boynton’s style of illustration. I think children will love flipping through the pages, spotting the added text, reading the speech bubbles, and poring over the many details in each individual image. I absolutely loved the illustrations and I think young children will also enjoy them.My Bottom Line:The Colourblind Chameleon is a delightful rhyming picture book featuring a unique and unusual main character, colourful and whimsical illustrations, and an important underlying message about staying true to who you are and finding your place in the world. I recommend this lovely book to parents, teachers, and librarians for children ages 2 years and older.* I was given this book free-of-charge by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.