LET'S TALK STICKY STUFF

A chameleon describes his own life experience and urges readers to get in touch with their feelings in Linsley’s debut picture book.

After David, a Jackson’s Chameleon, is adopted from a pet store by a human family, he explains how he copes with and adapts to his life’s “new changes.” The text also asks readers to consider how they’d respond in similar circumstances. For example, after David says that he “enjoy[s] the heat from the sun lamp” when he’s “FEELING GOOD,” he asks, “What do you do when you are feeling good?” David emphasizes challenging scenarios that trigger physical responses: “When I FEEL STRESS, I puff up my chin and start to hiss.” Another passage relates how he feels when he misses his chameleon relatives. However, David expresses that he’s “THANKFUL for the family I live with now because they love me and keep me safe.” Over the course of the text, Linsley offers enlightening instances of recognizing and honoring emotions, as experienced by a friendly animal protagonist. David’s recollections will inspire young readers to express their feelings, too. Starikova’s colorful cartoon illustrations will appeal to kids, as well. Some spreads feature diverse humans in scenarios that parallel the charming chameleon’s; for instance, when David eats bugs, a kid is shown imagining a bowl of noodles.

An approachable tale that offers helpful emotional insights.