Eliasen, Lorena. The Chameleon and the Dragonfly. Illustrated by Lorena Eliasen. Orchard Books, 2004. ISBN 0439523206. $16.95. 22 pp. Reviewer: Sandra L. Tidwell Reading Level: Preschool, Primary Rating: Outstanding Genre: Toy and Movable books; Picture books; Subject: Chameleons--Juvenile Literature; Animals--Juvenile Fiction; Book--Reviews; This cleverly designed pop-up book tells how Pepe, a green and yellow chameleon, wishes he could change colors in order to hide from a snake. His wish is granted by a glistening silver-winged dragonfly. The large, vivid pop-ups are of Pepe, the snake, and the dragonfly. The dragonfly pop-up is particularly impressive. The insect's multiple body parts are detailed and the total figure measures about 15" wide, 4" deep, and 5" high. In addition to the pop-ups, tabs move leaves to hide Pepe and a spinning color wheel changes Pepe's colors through all the colors of the rainbow. A warning with any pop-up book; you need to be careful that little hands don't grab the intricate pieces of the big pop-ups. I recommend this book to Moms to create a memory with their preschoolers about the wonder of the world of camouflage.
