Leo Lionni, children's book creator extraordinaire, author of such beloved picture books as Frederick, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, Swimmy, and Inch by Inch, all Caldecott Honor winners, introduces color concepts in an exquisite and touching story. It isn't until he befriends another older, wiser chameleon that our hero begins to find inner peace, even as his outer surface is transformed again and again. He thinks, 'If I remain on a leaf, I shall be green forever, and so I too will have a color of my own.' Of course, what he doesn't take into account is the changes wrought by autumn, and soon the green chameleon is yellow, then red, and then tumbled to the ground for the long black winter night. In the heather they are purple.' One chameleon is not pleased with his changeable appearance. 'Parrots are green, elephants are gray, pigs are pink.' But chameleons change color wherever they go. Hailed as 'a master of the simple fable' by the Chicago Tribune, he died in 1999 at the age of 89.Every animal has a color of its own. His picture books are distinguished by their enduring moral themes, graphic simplicity and brilliant use of collage, and include four Caldecott Honor Books: Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse.

He was the recipient of the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was honored posthumously in 2007 with the Society of Illustrators' Lifetime Achievement Award. Children's LiteratureĪbout the Author Leo Lionni, an internationally known designer, illustrator, and graphic artist, was born in Holland and lived in Italy until he came to the United States in 1939. Publishers Weekly As captivating now as it was when first published in 1975. 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. No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike. When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than having a color of his own. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red. 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. Only the chameleon has no color of his own.

Full color.īook Synopsis The classic story about searching for somewhere to belong, from four-time Caldecott honor winner Leo Lionni. Vivid illustrations and spare prose make this gentle story a perfect read-aloud. About the Book For the first time in paperback, here's the charming story of a chameleon who, in search of his own color, finds something even more special.

A color of his own by leo lionni