From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6. Chock-full of interesting facts, this friendly book features a lively text and a stunning selection of sharply focused, full-color photographs. The first chapter, "It's Not Easy Being Green," presents information about this unique creature's ability to change color. A graph of the chameleon's layered skin as well as a chart on reading its appearance are provided. Following chapters discuss mating habits, body temperature, etc. Attention is also given to the decline in numbers due to deforestation and just plain misinformation about these important reptiles. "Chameleon Facts" at the end provides information such as size, numbers of species, habitat, and life span. Perfect for general interest and reports.?Helen Rosenberg, St. Scholastica High School, Chicago, IL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 3^-6. It's easy to feel on location in Madagascar with writer Kathy Darling and her daughter, photographer Tara Darling. As they "show and tell" about the chameleons they are observing, the reader becomes a vicarious participant, sometimes addressed in the text. Despite an occasionally casual narrative element, the text always provides solid information. Readers will learn about a variety of chameleons and their lives, including their diets, mating, young, and changeable skin color. The chameleons' habitats and the creatures' value in the ecosystem are also discussed. The excellent, full-color photographs offer close-ups of a number of species, particularly the pardalis chameleon, which is shown in many different hues, which are explained in the captions as indicators of the animal's age, sex, pregnancy, and emotional state. An intriguing addition to the On Location series.
Carolyn Phelan
