Chameleon's Colors

by Chisato;Martens Tashiro, Marianne Martens (Translator)

What if lions had stripes and elephants had polka dots and . . . ? Chameleon is tired of constantly changing colors. He blends in wherever he goes and no one ever sees him! Hippo, however, is envious of Chameleon. He would love to be a different color. Surprisingly, all of the other animals in the jungle would, too! So, Chameleon sets to work painting strips on the lion and polka-dots on the elephant. He uses every color and pattern under the sun. But, as the animals soon learn, changing their original appearance causes problems they never expected. Chameleon is tired of blending in wherever he goes. How much fun it would be to paint himself—and everyone else—in checks and spots and stripes!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Spanish Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ghazaal B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

نشر نظر. این ناشر جذاب تازه‌یافته. :)

[Set · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the animals of the forest wanted to change their God given color and become like Chameleon. Eventually they all complained about their painted-on colors because it changed the hunting dynamic in the jungle. And then eventually it was all undone. In a way it's good that children learn to accept themselves and not covet or compare themselves to others. Unfortunately nowadays, there are children that undergo procedures that they cannot undo and later regret for the rest of their lives. People are doing things that are irreversible, they can't just wash off. So, I'm half way with this book.

Also, in a way, we are living in a chameleon world today and it's affecting almost everyone. People are all starting to look the same. For example, in the US, there are only 4% natural blondes. Yet, most people are dying their hair blonde, turning all the same shade. South Korea is the world's capital of plastic surgery and most south Koreans are changing their natural features to look more EU. In the black community, people are also going for the same look. Thank God for the natural hair community. People are starting to look the same because they are not content.

[Ashley Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text to Lesson

Chameleon's Colors is a children's story about a chameleon who wants to be popular in the jungle. One day, the other animals wanted to change colors like the chameleon can when he camouflages to match his environment. He helped them become different colors and they were beautiful! This made the chameleon very popular. However, the animals began to realize that being different colors wasn't great for their survival such as, methods for finding prey. The animals wanted the chameleon to change them back to normal but, eventually the rain washed the colors away. This text is a great way to introduce a science lesson to younger children about living things in their environments. For example, this would be great to introduce a "jungle themed" lesson on animal adaptations. The book is very colorful and the illustrations are great.

[Alireza Emami · Rating 3 out of 5]

در ایران به نام "رنگ های آفتاب پرست" با ترجمه فاطمه کاوندی توسط بخش کودک و نوجوان موسسه پژوهشیچاپ و نشر نظر در سال 1390 چاپ شده است
آفتاب پرست به هر کجا می رود به همان رنگ در می آید. او دیگر از این وضع خسته شده، چون هیچ کس نمی تواند او را ببیند. امّا دیگر جانوران جنگل دوست دارند که مانند آفتاب پرست رنگارنگ باشند.
آفتاب پرست به کمک رنگ گل ها حیوانات را رنگ می کند. امّا پس از مدتی جانوران شروع به شکایت می کنند چون زندگی آن ها به هم ریخته است، به خاطر تغییر رنگ، نه می توانند پنهان شوند، نه می توانند غذای خود را به راحتی تشخیص دهند وگناه این مشکلات را بر گردن آفتاب پرست می اندازند. او را تهدید کرده و دنبالش می کنند تا تنبیهش کنند. در آخرین لحظه که آفتاب پرست خود را در یک قدمی پرتگاه می بیند، با بارش باران همه رنگ های حیوانات شسته می شود و همگی به زندگی عادی خود برمی گردند و او نجات پیدا می کند
به کودکان می آموزد که وجود هر چیز دلیلی دارد

[Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Chameleon's Colors , Chiasto Tashiro tells the story of a Chameleon who can change its colours to blend in to its surroundings. When a Hippo expresses that they wished they could change colours, Chameleon changes him to pink and then gets an idea that would change all of the animals of the jungle to different colours. The animals love it at first and the Chameleon becomes popular, but soon, the animals want to back to their regular colour and they become angry at Chameleon. Luckily, with the help of the Chameleon's ability to camouflage himself and hide and a spout of rain that washes off the other animals' colours, everything goes back to normal.

Chameleon's Colors is really colourful, beautifully illustrated and filled with animals which makes it an engaging and fun story for little ones. At the end of the story, the animals turn out to be happiest in their natural state... sending the message that we should all love ourselves the way that we are.

Not everything in the story is accurate. For example, lions and zebras usually live in open spaces, not in the jungle and, obviously, chameleon's can't make other animals change colours. Either way, I think some liberties are fine for a children's book.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful illustrations, with a good message about accepting yourself just the way you are. Personally, I found the book a bit odd, and I think the animals overreacted (after all...they asked for it. I mean, do you get mad at the tattoo artist for doing what you want or the stylist for making your hair the color you requested? Think about it...) Not a bad book, but not making the top of my list.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun book with engaging illustrations and a good message, to be yourself

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for storytime.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too wordy, beautiful pictures.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, short story. Good possibility for Rainbow storytime.

[Renee MA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to use for teaching camouflage.

[Marit]

Chameleon's color was a nice book. When I was reading I saw some similarities to another book I just read, called ''Elmer''. The elephant Elmer reminded me of the Chameleon, because both of them did not want to be the only one with color and be different from the others. The two books complement each other because the Chameleon wants to be noticed, he do not want to be invisible anymore, but Elmer (the elephant) do not want to be the only one with color and be noticed everywhere he goes. This book is a nice book to use to teach about animals, and just think about how many interesting conversations it may be about the strange chameleon, who actually changes color!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book as a possibility for a Jungle Toddler Storytime, but quickly realized it was too long. My son liked all the crazy color combinations the little chameleon came up with in the story. Chameleon hates blending in to everything, so when Hippo tells him how jealous he is of his changing colors, Chameleon agrees to help him change. Soon all the animals in the jungle want to change colors, which is fine until they realize that this affects how they eat and hunt! So they demand Chameleon change them back, but he is thankfully saved by a rainstorm, which washes all their colors away. Recommended for ages 3-6, 3 stars.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 125886 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.7 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

Chameleon changes his color and blends into his surroundings so well that even his friends walk right by him. When he complains to his friend hippo he finds that Hippo wants to be more like Chameleon. So Chameleon paints Hippo and all the other animals. Each finds that being them self is better.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the story and the illustrations.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the pictures in this book! I also liked the lesson about camouflage.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful illustrations.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

THe chameleon paints his jungle friends so they can experience what it is like to be him. They don't care for it in the end. The art has lots of pop.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute cute story! Good lesson on accepting yourself for who you are! Received as a birthday gift & will cherish for a long time!