A Color of His Own

From four-time Caldecott Medal honoree Leo Lionni comes this tender, timeless story about identity, friendship, and finding where you truly belong.

Every creature has their signature color—elephants are gray, pigs are pink, parrots are bright and bold. But what about the chameleon? He shifts from purple on the heather to yellow on a lemon, even black and orange striped when he ventures near a tiger. He has no color to call his own.

Determined to solve his problem, the clever chameleon decides to stay put on the greenest leaf he can find. Surely this will give him a permanent identity! But when autumn arrives, the leaf transforms from green to golden yellow to brilliant red—and the chameleon changes right along with it. Just when he feels most uncertain, he meets another chameleon with the same dilemma.

Together, they discover something more valuable than any single color: the comfort of companionship. No matter where they go or what colors they become, they’ll always have each other—and they’ll always match.

Lionni’s distinctive collage illustrations and gentle storytelling create a picture book that resonates with anyone who has ever felt different or struggled to fit in. Perfect for young readers navigating questions of self-esteem, identity, and the true meaning of friendship, A Color of His Own is a classic that belongs on every child’s bookshelf—right here at the shop, waiting to be discovered between the salty sea air and the creak of our floorboards.

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