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Summary
Summary
The classic story about searching for somewhere to belong, from four-time Caldecott honor winner Leo Lionni.
Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own. He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger! Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon. When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than having a color of his own. No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike.
Author Notes
Leo Lionni was born in Amsterdam on May 5, 1910. He attended the University of Zurich and also earned a doctorate in Economics from the University of Genoa in 1935. He taught himself to draw by visiting museums.
After marrying Nora Maffi in 1931, Lionni moved to Milan, Italy, where he became known as a painter. In 1939 he moved to Philadelphia and began working in advertising design. Lionni held several positions in the artistic field including artistic director and design director. He also served as president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Around 1960 Lionni moved back to Italy. His first of over forty children's books was Little Blue and Little Yellow. Other titles include Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse, all of which won a Caldecott Honor. In addition, he received the American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal in 1984.
Lionni died on October 11, 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy at the age of 89.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Lionni's signature watercolors span the rainbow in this story of a chameleon who, while searching for his identity, finds a friend with whom he can share his changeable nature. Ages 3-5. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
A chameleon is dissatisfied that he does not have an identifying color--until he meets another chameleon and they decide to change colors together. This board book edition is smaller than the original picture book but is otherwise unchanged. Both the color concept and Lionni's art are perfect for the audience. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
You'd think the chameleon's ability to change his hue would afford a splendid chance for a dazzling Lionni display, and even his engaging little story--of one particular chameleon who longs for a color of his own--seems designed as a backdrop. But the flamboyant Lionni is not to be seen here, and the stylized simplicity that distinguished this artist at his earlier best verges here on rubber-stamp monotony. Too, his young audience will have a right to question the words ""on lemons they are yellow"" below a picture of the creature perched on a fruit that, from its color, looks more like a lime. Of course Lionni's hero does go through some nifty changes, including polka dots and tiger stripes, and it's nice to see him matched with another at the end: ""We will still change color wherever we go, but you and I will always be alike."" Alike yes--but nothing like Frederick, Swimmy, or Little Yellow. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
