Book Activities
A Color of His Own
Written and Illustrated by Leo Lionni
ISBN: 0375810919 Published: 2000
From the Publisher:
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.
Other Books by the Author
Inch by Inch; Fish is Fish; Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse; It's Mine!; An Extraordinary Egg; The Greentail Mouse; Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse
Read
 Preview the book with your child. Explain that it is book about a chameleon who doesn't want to change colors, he wants a color of his own.
Do
 If you could choose any color to be, what color would you choose? Would you be red like a juicy strawberry? Would you be royal purple like a king’s robes?
Chameleons change color to blend in with their surroundings, are there other animals that can blend into their surroundings?
Go outside and play hide and seek! See if you can blend in with your surroundings.
Look at what you are wearing, how many colors do you see? What are they? What other things are the same color as the clothes you are wearing? Could you blend in somewhere wearing your clothes?
The chameleon wanted a color of his own and to fit in with the other animals. Do you ever feel like you don't fit in?
The chameleon didn't realize that he was unique and special. Is there something about you that makes you unique and special?
View
Here are some online sources of video that explore chameleons and camouflage.
Wild Kratts Schedule on NHPTV
Episode 315: Chameleon on Target
Aviva’s special ring chip invention is stolen by a mysterious lemur! Chris and Martin set off after it, with a little help from the amazing creature powers of the chameleon.
Learning Goals: Animals can have very specialized adaptations for finding food.
Featured Animals: Chameleon
This activity page features some great ideas for learning about animal camouflage and includes an online clip where kids can see how camouflage allows a gecko to blend in with the tree.
Skills: Identifying patterns and relationships; developing ideas; communicating and collaborating
Featured Animals: Gecko
Learn about the natural defense mechanism of camouflage as the Kratt brothers explore how it's used by walking sticks and chameleons. Viewers learn that chameleons move in a jerking motion to look like a leaf blowing in the wind and that they have swiveling eyes, enabling them to spot predators and prey.
Websites
Chameleons
Learn more about chameleons at this site from the San Diego Zoo.
Chameleons
Do you know where chameleons live, what they eat, or how they have babies? Find out at this site from Ranger Rick..
Camouflage
Click on an environment and see if you can spot the animals at this site from Harcourt School Publishers.
Veiled Chameleon
Learn more about the veiled chameleon at this site from the National Zoo.
A Color of His Own Lesson Plan
This first grade lesson plan focuses on language arts and dance.
A Color of His Own Lesson Plan
This lesson plan from the Alabama Department of Education focuses on language arts and color.
A Color of His Own Lesson Plan
This K-3 science lesson plan from the Department of Chemistry
at Union College in Schenectady, NY grade demonstrates how heat sensitive paper can change color.
A Color of His Own
This site from Random House features a synopsis of the book and a downloadable activity.
Lionni Books: An Author Study
This site from the International reading Association features four books by author Leo Lionni and focuses on literary elements and comparing characters and plots.
Other Book Titles
The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle (1988)
A chameleon learns that he can change not only his color but also his shape!
Chameleon Chameleon by Joy Cowley (2005)
Brilliant photographs illustrate this book about the panther chameleon native to the tropical rain forests of Madagascar.
Leon the Chameleon by Melanie Watt (2003)
Poor Leo, unlike other chameleons who change color to blend in with their surroundings, Leo changes to a contrasting color!
Crafty Chameleon by Mwenye Hadithi (1998)
A cunning chameleon outwits a leopard and crocodile.
Turnagain Ptarmigan! Where Did You Go? by James Guenther (2000)
In this rhyming book a young girl looks for a willow ptarmigan who changes color in the winter.
Look-Alikes: The More You Look, the More You See! by Joan Steiner (2003)
You'll have to look carefully at the pictures in this book! things aren't what they seem. Buildings are made from crayons and crackers, sidewalks are made out of bread and couches are made of gloves.
Nature's Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You by Susan Stockdale (1999)
Find out how patterns and colors help animals survive in the wild.
Animals Brightly Colored by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes (1998)
This book is arranged as a guessing game. Clues are given and the reader has to figure out what the animal is.
How to Hide a Butterfly & Other Insects by Ruth Heller
(1992)
Find out how insects use camouflage.
How to Hide a Meadow Frog and Other Amphibians by Ruth Heller (1995)
Find out how amphibians like toads and salamanders use camouflage to "disappear."
How to Hide a Parakeet & Other Birds by Ruth Heller
(1995)
How to Hide a Polar Bear & Other Mammals by Ruth Heller (1994)
Find out how mammals like the deer, zebra, and polar bear use camouflage. |
