(3) K-3 Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. Unlike the other chameleons, Leon can't seem to change color to match his surroundings. Readers are interactively encouraged to count, whisper, smile, and more as neon-orange Leon searches for an environment (green jungle? yellow desert?) in which his brilliant glow will fit. Teckentrup's bold digital illustrations play with variations in shade and texture, demonstrating the many ways an animal can blend in--or not, in Leon's case.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Andy Atkins. Napoleon the chameleon is naturally good at disguising himself in the lush tropical rainforest setting. He blends in so well, however, that he's invisible to his friends. An accidental trick finally gets the other animals' attention. Napoleon's tale of persistence is brought to life in the lavishly detailed illustrations.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Bumba Books: Rain Forest Animals series. Examining one animal per volume, this early science series offers quick, overly broad surveys of rainforest animals. Colorful layouts and close-up photographs enhance simple descriptions of each creature's appearance, behavior, life cycle, and habitat. Critical thinking questions scattered throughout provide the option for a more interactive reading experience. A basic anatomy chart is appended. Also available in Spanish. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Rain Forest Animals titles: It's a Boa Constrictor!, It's a Chameleon!, and It's a Red-Eyed Tree Frog!

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Amazing Animals series. Vivid photographs providing up-close views of the daily lives and habits of frogs and chameleons are the highlights of these slim volumes. Minimal texts touch on habitat, appearance, food, and offspring, and each supplies a folk-story answer to a question about the creature (e.g., "Why do chameleons shake when they walk? People in Africa told a story about this..."). Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Amazing Animals titles: Chameleons and Frogs.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Translated by Teresa Mlawer. 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 (smaller than the original picture book published in 1975) includes Spanish text alongside the English. Both the color concept and Lionni's art are perfect for the audience--in both languages.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 Translated by Annette Appel. Illustrated by Orit Bergman. Noah and his family care for and feed all the ark's passengers. But the chameleons refuse everything--until a worm infestation is discovered. Bergman subtly infuses a touch of racial justice (Noah has brown skin; his sons and wife vary in color) in her illustrations. With a happy ending about everyone finding what they need, this resplendent book celebrates the miracle of nature.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Desert Animals series. These basic introductions to various desert reptiles offer cursory facts about appearance, habitat, food, and life cycle. Simple (if choppy) texts for emergent readers are adequately reflected in the accompanying photos. The appended "Quick Stats" sections offer size comparisons, some with confusing visuals (e.g., the picture comparing the length of a three-foot long rattlesnake to an acoustic guitar shows the snake coiled up). Glos., ind. Review covers these Zoom In on Desert Animals titles: Chameleons, Cobras, Iguanas, Komodo Dragons, and Rattlesnakes.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 First Facts: Get to Know Reptiles series. Ten chapters cover each lizard species' physical adaptations, habitat, diet, life cycle, threats, and conservation efforts. In addition to straightforward texts, the well-designed pages include captioned photos, fact boxes, and definitions of vocabulary words printed in bold. Report writers will find these introductions thorough and accessible. Two Common Core–related questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: Get to Know Reptiles titles: Chameleons and Komodo Dragons.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Comparing Animal Traits series. Each presentation covers appearance, habitat, skills, and traits for its subject while also comparing and contrasting the focal animal with other reptiles by text, photos, and charts. Some comparisons are natural, some surprisingly revealing; however, others--such as tuataras and Brahminy blind snakes--feel random, without many relevant comparative features. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos, ind. Review covers these Comparing Animal Traits titles: American Alligators, Galápagos Tortoises, King Cobras, Panther Chameleons, and Tuataras.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Lizards series. Each title in this high-interest series introduces a different reptile in short chapters with eye-catching color photos and age-appropriate vocabulary. Engaging--if not always scientific ("Geckos have super powers")--text details each animal's physical features, diet, geographical location, and reproductive behavior, as well as endangered status and conservation efforts. A sporadic question-and-answer feature adds information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lizards titles: Bearded Dragons, Chameleons, Geckos, Gila Monsters, Green Iguanas, and Komodo Dragons.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 S.W.I.T.C.H. series. Illustrated by Ross Collins. Eight-year-old twins Josh and Danny continue their adventures as test subjects in their neighbor's mad experiment. Miss Potts has developed S.W.I.T.C.H. spray, which temporarily changes people into insects and animals. These undemanding books rely on humor and suspense to capture readers' attention. The black-and-white drawings help bring the preposterous plots to life. There are four other spring 2014 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these S.W.I.T.C.H. titles: Alligator Action, Anaconda Adventure, Chameleon Chaos, Frog Freakout, Gecko Gladiator, Lizard Looppy, Newt Nemesis, and Turtle Terror.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 It's karma: in her second (and superior) vehicle (Chamelia), the stage-hogging chameleon is outshone by a new classmate. Cooper is a great artist, a great athlete, and, as the snappy digital-collage art makes clear, a great dresser. Show-and-Tell Day means a showdown but leads to a breathtakingly unexpected change of heart: Chamelia realizes that sometimes "being the best felt the worst."

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Chameleon Carlos believes he's king of the zoo, until he sees signage at other zoo animals' enclosures claiming each is ruler; ultimately an admiring little girl boosts downtrodden Carlos's ego right back up. The slight story is dominated by Carlos's repetitive ranting ("The King of the Zoo is ME, that's who!"), but Urbanovic humorously pictures the creature's emotion-induced color-changing.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Easily accessible pages offer an overview of panther chameleons' stages of development, diet, and habitat. Presented as observations in a child's notebook, the information is supported by engaging close-up photos, text boxes, and questions to encourage further thinking. The fictional narrator is unnecessary, but overall this is an adequate introduction to an animal found only on Madagascar. Related activities are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Animal Library: Unique Pets series. These books offer general information on the natural habitats, appearance, and behaviors of out-of-the-ordinary animals that can be kept as pets, as well as the care they need when domesticated. The series suffers from a dull, repetitive design, though the information is straightforward and accessible, and compelling photographs will appeal to young exotic-animal enthusiasts. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Animal Library titles: Chameleons, Iguanas, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, and Potbellied Pigs.