A Color of His Own

This hardcover reissue restores the original "smallish" format that four-time Caldecott Honor Book artist Leo Lionni chose for this color concept book. Unavailable in this trade format for more than 20 years and unavailable in any hardcover format for ten yearss, this popular title (81,292 copies sold in its various hardcover editions) is Lionni's youngest picture book. Attractively priced at just $12.95, it is part of Knopf's on-going effort to bring this great author/artist to the attention of young children today.

The classic story about searching for somewhere to belong, from four-time Caldecott honor winner Leo Lionni.


Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own. He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger! Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon. When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than having a color of his own. No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike.