Quincy: The Chameleon Who Couldn't Blend In

PreS-Gr 2—Quincy, a chameleon, has an artist's soul and his changing colors reflect his thoughts, not his surroundings. This makes camouflage impossible. After many mistakes and embarrassments, Quincy is so disheartened that his skin blends right in with the stormy sky. His art teacher recognizes his uniqueness for the gift that it is and gives him the opportunity to celebrate his talent and finally see himself in a positive light. The watercolor wash illustrations are the book's highlight. When Quincy thinks of rainbows and mountains, he becomes a full-spread chameleon landscape. After being inspired in art class, he becomes his own canvas. Quincy never does learn to blend in. An author's note explains that chameleons don't really change their color to match their surroundings, so Quincy's quirk is unlikely to have any serious repercussions. This is a bit confusing, since the misconception about chameleons and color-changing likely comes from the fact that some species of chameleons can change their color variations to reflect their mood, just not their surroundings.