Behold the Chameleon! Written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Peachtree, Penguin Random House. 2025. $25.99 ages 8 and up

 

"As a chameleon sleeps, its skin color lightens. 
Scientists believe this occurs because the chameleon's 
pigment cells (which affect skin color) relax as it rests. 
Desert chameleons sleep in burrows beneath the hot 
sand. Tree-dwelling chameleons sleep in areas where 
they normally feed by clutching branches with their 
claws and tails about 1 to 12 feet (0.3 to 3.6 meters)
above the ground."

On a spring day in April when a bold, blue sky makes everything glow and even hints at shades of green in surrounding trees, I am reminded of the brilliance of the artwork created in pastel, colored pencils and airbrush by Thomas Gonzelez for his newest collaboration with Suzanne Slade. The realism of the illustrations that accompany the research information provided by the prolific Ms. Slade is truly mesmerizing. 

Each spread places descriptive words for a variety of chameleons on the verso, and a detailed, revealing paragraph concerning the species on the recto. Readers learn that there are over 220 different chameleons, that most live in Africa and Madagascar, and that their habitats include mountains, savannas, deserts, and rainforests. We see that they are remarkable creatures of beauty when considering the diversity in their coloring. 

Verbs used accentuate their many capabilities as they find food, shelter, and safety: stalking, snatching, dining, clinging, changing, and shining. The text is perfectly paired with wondrous images that allow readers a close look. There is a lot to learn here for those kids who are keen to know more about the natural world.  

"A chameleon's natural coloring already matches 
its habitat. A chameleon may change color to 
control its body temperature (darker colors absorb
more heat from sunlight) or communicate feelings.
For example, a calm chameleon may turn green."

For those who don't get all they need from these opening spreads, they will want to carefully read the back matter provided. Two pages of additional information are there, along with acknowledgements, a selected bibliography, and three Internet sites for further learning. 

This is a companion book to Behold the Octopus!, and Behold the Hummingbird!