The Mixed Up Chameleon

By Eric Carle

This book is a very simple story about a chameleon who lives a very boring, simple life... until one day, he goes to a zoo and sees all the other animals.  He begins to wish he were like the other animals.  "I wish I were smart like a fox.  I wish I were handsome like a flamingo."  His wishes come true but he keeps wishing for more!  Eventually he becomes so mixed up that when he tries to catch a fly, he is unable to do so.  He wishes to be his normal self again... and his wish comes true!  And the chameleon learns a good lesson in being happy with yourself the way you are.

I used this book in Block A for a mini lesson on mental images.  The book is pretty simple, so it's appropriate for even the earliest of readers.  The chameleon's wishes are vague enough that if you let the children listen and come up with their own mental images (which they could draw if you want!), you'll find that everyone comes up with something a little bit different (how exactly does one become "handsome like a flamingo," anyway?).  It's a great example of how personal schema affects the way people interpret what they read.

If you're not looking to make a big reading lesson out of this book, that's okay too.  As always, Carle has wonderful, creative, and colorful illustrations that are sure to thrill readers of all ages.  And, as I mentioned, the book is suitable for very young readers.  This story is sure to spark creative thinking and it even offers a moral about positive self-image.