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Sep 04, 2013
Chamelia was an unusual chameleon. Unlike most chameleons, she did not want to blend in with her surroundings and hide. Instead, Chamelia liked to “make a splash” and stand out in a crowd. She thrived on attention, especially at school. That was why Chamelia was so annoyed one day when a new student stole the spotlight and quickly became the centre of attention. Cooper made friends easily, both in the classroom and on the playground. He was the best soccer player. He was the best artist in the class, and everyone wanted him to draw their portrait. His new games were a hit with everyone, and he brought yummy frosted cupcakes to school on his birthday. Chamelia was outshadowed, and she didn’t like it at all! How could she regain centre stage among her friends and classmates? She hatched a plan. On Show-and-Tell Day, she did her best to distract her classmates just as Cooper was proudly showing his rock collection. She yawned - and yawned again. She blew raspberries. She yawned some more. Her plan worked, and everyone was totally distracted. However, as Chamelia looked at Cooper’s sad, embarrassed face, she got a not-so-nice feeling in her stomach. Right away, she decided to change her game plan and show her classmates what a true star would do. Readers will enjoy the way in which this story ends, with Chamelia making a new best friend. Ethan Long, a father of three young children, is both author and illustrator of this entertaining picture book with its message about jealousy, empathy and friendship. His earlier picture book, Chamelia, can also be found at the Stratford Public Library.