A Color of His Own

by Leo Lionni, Leo Lionni (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780375836978
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	06/13/2006
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	110,613
Product dimensions:	8.13(w) x 7.81(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About 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. 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. 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. Hailed as “a master of the simple fable” by the Chicago Tribune, he died in 1999 at the age of 89.

Editorial Reviews

"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." —Publishers Weekly

"As captivating now as it was when first published in 1975." —Children's Literature

From the Publisher

Our Review
Author-illustrator Leo Lionni is well known for his use of colorful and imaginative watercolor storybooks. A Color of His Own, now in this convenient board book, does not disappoint. In the true style of a master storyteller, Lionni presents a very cute chameleon with a distressing problem. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to find his own color. He always seems to adapt to his surroundings, never sustaining a "signature" shade. Determined to be one color, he find a green leaf and stays there. But as the seasons change, so does the leaf, and so does the chameleon! When he befriends another chameleon, he realizes they will always be the same color if they stick together. This newfound friendship is far more meaningful than anything else.

Preschoolers will delight in the illustrations and fall in love with the adorable chameleon. Lionni uses very little prose in this story and manages to convey this wonderful message of love, friendship, and belonging in an enchanting fashion.

bn.com

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.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Of the original edition of A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni (1975), PW wrote, "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." Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Lionni's simple tale of a dissatisfied chameleon who finally finds happiness is as captivating now as it was when first published in 1975. We meet the green parrot, the red goldfish, the gray elephant, and the pink pig; "All animals have a color of their own, except for chameleons." Chameleons change color depending on where they are. The chameleon in this story hopes to find a color of his own, but the leaf he is on turns yellow and red and falls off the tree, leaving the chameleon black "in the long winter night." When he meets another chameleon in the spring who will stay by his side and change color with him, he can finally live "happily ever after." Watercolors on prepared papers are used to cut the simplest of shapes stuck on white pages. A strong contrast is made with the dark purple background for winter and the sharp green blades of grass for spring. The spare text offers lessons on color, on chameleons, and on friendship. 2003 (orig. 1975), Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books, and Ages 3 to 6.
—Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Children's Literature