Book Reviews:  

Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite In Camilla the Chameleon’s Colorful Day by Jennifer Melvin, readers meet the title character, Camilla, who’s feeling nervous. At school, surrounded by her friends like Burt the Bearded Dragon, she’s usually a happy student in Ms. Gecko’s classroom. That changes when her teacher announces that a new student will be joining their class. Everyone, including her pals, is excited, but Camilla’s skin turns yellow with worry. She’s anxious about meeting someone new. She’s also a bit embarrassed about how her skin color changes, so she tries to hide it by wearing a black cape or painting herself. Then Camilla talks with her buddies and learns that each of them has unique traits, too, showing her that everyone has something special. Does she begin to feel better after this or worse? And what happens when the new student finally arrives? I found Camilla the Chameleon’s Colorful Day by Jennifer Melvin to be enjoyable as both a regular reader and an educator. I love how Camilla’s changing hues turn emotions into something young learners can see and name, and how her friends’ “differences” (a puffy beard and a shell to hide in, to name a couple) all become traits to be proud of. The writing is light and friendly, which is perfect for keeping kids’ attention during a read-aloud. In the classroom, I could envision it being used to start conversations on emotions and how each of us is one of a kind. Students could also draw a picture of themselves and color it to match their mood. I also liked the section at the end asking, “What color are you feeling?” It’s a great way to include readers in the story. Nadia Ronquillo’s artwork uses bright colors and details, making each character’s face and body language clear. It’s an uplifting read that helps youngsters to understand not only themselves, but each other, too.