The Chameleon Variant [Hardcover]

Carol K. Mack (Author), David Ehrenfeld (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1980 | Age Level: 5 and up

This funny Choctaw tale tells of the time when the Great Sun Father wanted to find a way to warn his people of coming storms. He gave the job to Heloha and Melatha, who were not the smartest of birds. Their ideas led to one silly mishap after another--until they created thunder and lightning completely by accident. Full-color collage illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Roth (Fire Came to the Earth People) outdoes herself with the exceptional cut-paper collages illustrating this folktale, told by a debut author of Choctaw descent. The Great Sun Father commissions Heloha and Melatha, "two great, silly birds," to devise a way to warn the Choctaw to seek shelter before the approach of a storm. After several bird-brained attempts, the pair unwittingly hits on thunder and lightning-but Heloha and Melatha, too foolish to realize their success, "are still trying to think of a good warning." So intricate and detailed is Roth's scissorwork that electric-blue Heloha and robust red Melatha seem constructed of feathers, not paper. The artist illuminates their almost slapstick endeavors with stop-time acumen and wit, breathing life into the kid-pleasing comedies of the somewhat flat text. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4?Harrell retells a lesser-known Choctaw legend about two birds who are asked by the Great Sun Father to figure out how to warn the people to take shelter from the upcoming wind and rain. Heloha, who is large and slow moving, and her mate Melatha, who is small, fast, and clumsy, are both just plain silly. As they try to resolve their problem, Heloha persists in laying her large eggs on the clouds, and they roll away, rumbling as they go. Melatha streaks across the sky in an effort to retrieve them. Great Sun Father decides that their noise-and-light show is as good a signal for rain as any, although the birds, unaware of this, continue to try to find a solution. Harrell's humorous narrative rambles at times, especially when describing Melatha's first attempts at warning the people, but overall the tale is well told and reads aloud well. Roth's collages are ideal, combining papers of different textures and using defined, cut shapes against melded torn-paper backgrounds. The endearing, brilliantly colored birds appear on a textured, creamy background, suggesting the clouds that are their new home. An appropriate addition to any collection.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (May 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803717482
• ISBN-13: 978-0803717480
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,264,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)