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Invisible Lizard
Poor Napoleon. Despite being the spiffiest chameleon in the jungle, he has no friends. And why is that? Because no one can see him! As everyone knows, chameleons blend in with their surroundings. Napoleon is practically invisible. So he tries every trick he can think of, from waving his arms to weaving a welcome mat to making funny faces, to get the other jungle animals to see him. But it's his final trick that really gets him noticed.
32 pages, ebook
First published August 15, 2017
3 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 5, 2017
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. Look at this opening sentence:
Once upon a spiffy limb, there lived a little chameleon named Napoleon.
Yeah, no. But after that the book surprisingly improved. It explains how since Napoleon is a chameleon, no one ever sees him.
No one ever saw him, even when he waved his arms.
Which took him twenty minutes to do.
Chameleons move very, very slowly.
The joking about how slow Napoleon is is a running gag, and children will love it. It's pretty funny.
The illustrations are also amazing.
Napoleon does a lot to get noticed.
But it's not until he falls from a branch while trying to do a headstand - and saves himself with his long and quick tongue - that the other animals see him. Then they all become friends and play hide-and-seek, King of the Tree, and Red-Lizard Green-Lizard.
Extra points for Cyrus naming the animals and not just naming them 'Chameleon,' 'Monkey,' and 'Parrot.' Instead they are Napoleon, Mike, and Polly.
Tl;dr - Cute story about a slow-moving chameleon who just wants to be noticed. Great illustrations. Children will get a kick out of it.
Ages 5 and under.
Once upon a spiffy limb, there lived a little chameleon named Napoleon.
Yeah, no. But after that the book surprisingly improved. It explains how since Napoleon is a chameleon, no one ever sees him.
No one ever saw him, even when he waved his arms.
Which took him twenty minutes to do.
Chameleons move very, very slowly.
The joking about how slow Napoleon is is a running gag, and children will love it. It's pretty funny.
The illustrations are also amazing.
Napoleon does a lot to get noticed.
But it's not until he falls from a branch while trying to do a headstand - and saves himself with his long and quick tongue - that the other animals see him. Then they all become friends and play hide-and-seek, King of the Tree, and Red-Lizard Green-Lizard.
Extra points for Cyrus naming the animals and not just naming them 'Chameleon,' 'Monkey,' and 'Parrot.' Instead they are Napoleon, Mike, and Polly.
Tl;dr - Cute story about a slow-moving chameleon who just wants to be noticed. Great illustrations. Children will get a kick out of it.
Ages 5 and under.
November 10, 2017
This is a fantastically colourful book for little children (and adults who haven't lost their inner child)!
It tells of Napolean, a chameleon that is lonely on his tree because nobody can see him. As everyone else in the world, he wants to be noticed however, so he tries everything he can think of. In the end, it's what makes him him that makes the others finally notice.
A great message for young and old, presented in the most delightful colours!
Seriously, I'm in love with this artwork like I've never been before with any other!
It tells of Napolean, a chameleon that is lonely on his tree because nobody can see him. As everyone else in the world, he wants to be noticed however, so he tries everything he can think of. In the end, it's what makes him him that makes the others finally notice.
A great message for young and old, presented in the most delightful colours!
Seriously, I'm in love with this artwork like I've never been before with any other!
August 5, 2020
This is a wonderful book for kids about a chameleon making friends! The artwork is amazing!
October 24, 2017
I have mixed feelings about the art here--it sometimes looks artificial, as if it were computer generated, and at other times looks more like realistic nature drawings. But the plot is amusing, and how can I not love a book that uses the word "spiffy" so effectively?
January 10, 2024
Historia mnie nie zachwyciła na tyle, aby zostać w mojej pamięci na dłużej, ale w skrócie opowiada o tym, że każdy z nas chce być zauważony.
Całkiem ciekawe ilustracje na których można wraz z dzieckiem poszukiwać kameleona.
Całkiem ciekawe ilustracje na których można wraz z dzieckiem poszukiwać kameleona.
August 10, 2017
Napoleon the chameleon struggles to make friends because he is so good at blending in that none of the other animals are even aware that he exists. When he almost falls off a limb, the other animals become aware of his presence and are thrilled with the possibility of making a new friend.
A funny read aloud for PreK-2.
A funny read aloud for PreK-2.
April 29, 2018
SO cute!! Wish I had this when I was younger!
June 8, 2021
Fantastic art. Creative idea. Meh story.
Napoleon is a chameleon who doesn't like feeling invisible. Chameleons move slowly. What else can he do that's interesting?
Napoleon is a chameleon who doesn't like feeling invisible. Chameleons move slowly. What else can he do that's interesting?
April 27, 2023
Child: The chameleon swinging by his tongue was my favorite part.
Me: Cute book, the illustrations were beautiful. The detail and expression on the chameleon were fun. I liked the story and the message was cute. Would probably not check out again, unless someone got into reptiles.
Me: Cute book, the illustrations were beautiful. The detail and expression on the chameleon were fun. I liked the story and the message was cute. Would probably not check out again, unless someone got into reptiles.
August 18, 2017
Colorful and detailed illustrations fill the pages of this picture book, paying tribute to life in the jungle and perhaps gaining a little bit of respect for chameleons everywhere. Napoleon is a chameleon who would like to get noticed by others and have some friends. But because his species are designed to blend in with their surroundings, there's little chance of that happening. After all, who could possibly see him? He tries several different strategies, including waving his arms, sashaying on a tree limb, and even weaving a welcome mat, but nothing works. It takes Napoleon toppling from a tree and quickly halting his fall with his tongue to bring him to the attention of the other animals. Finally, he gains two new friends, a monkey and a parrot, who notice him and see his potential. The story is told in a humorous way, poking sly fun at how slow a chameleon moves but also making it clear that he takes action to change some things in his life. Who knew that a chameleon might suffer from small identify crisis?
August 6, 2020
"Once upon a spiffy limb, there lived a chameleon named Napolean."
Poor Napolean. All he wants is to be noticed, but no one sees him. He's too good at blending in. To make matters worse, he moves so slowly that his motions don't attract attention either. But with a little persistence, a little luck and a very quick tongue, Napolean finally gets noticed.
Gorgeous illustrations. The "Funny Face" page is absolutely priceless.
Poor Napolean. All he wants is to be noticed, but no one sees him. He's too good at blending in. To make matters worse, he moves so slowly that his motions don't attract attention either. But with a little persistence, a little luck and a very quick tongue, Napolean finally gets noticed.
Gorgeous illustrations. The "Funny Face" page is absolutely priceless.
April 10, 2018
Although Napoleon the chameleon is fantastically colored, he's nearly invisible because he blends into his environment so well. His efforts to befriend the other neighborhood animals all come to naught and he must resort to falling off his branch and hanging by his tongue before they notice him. But once they do, they become fast friends and enjoy playing hide and seek together. The artwork is richly imagined - particularly Napoleon's different skin patterns and colors.
September 9, 2019
Napoleon the chameleon wants a friend. But his skill at blending with his surroundings makes him invisible, and he has trouble getting the other jungle creatures to notice him. The message easily transfers to introvert children and friendship struggles. Compare with Invisible Boy. Also, use as a fun extension to rain forest study, and to animal adaptations and camouflage.
February 22, 2020
This story is about a chameleon, Napoleon, who feels like because he blends in so well, no one notices him. The book follows him, using colorful illustrations, as he tries to do things to be noticed by other animals. This would be a good read-aloud for younger students in grades K-2. This book would be one to both entertain and discuss friendship and feeling lonely.
September 8, 2017
Cute story, some really excellent sly digs at the slowness of chameleon movement, and wonderful, wonderful! Illustrations. Quirky, lovely, and so seamlessly integrated with the story I had to double check that there were 2 people working on this one.
October 4, 2017
Cute story - gorgeous illustrations! I loved the running gag about how slowly he moved. And the crazy pose the monkey is frozen in during Red Lizard Green Lizard!
And did I mention the illustrations? They're so rich and colorful!
And did I mention the illustrations? They're so rich and colorful!
October 8, 2017
The agony of not being noticed is beautifully portrayed in Invisible Lizard., as is the satisfaction of having friends.
Richly illustrated in color and details, the book is a feast for the eyes. Searching for the characters, it’s a bit like reading Where’s Waldo.
Richly illustrated in color and details, the book is a feast for the eyes. Searching for the characters, it’s a bit like reading Where’s Waldo.
November 5, 2017
Poor Napoleon the chameleon finds it difficult to stand out from his surroundings. He just wants to be noticed, but no one ever does. This is a cute book and what kid (or adult) can't relate to feeling invisible every once in a while?
November 7, 2017
Napoleon the Chameleon is frustrated that the other jungle animals don't notice him because he blends in with his surroundings.
Beautiful illustrations accompany the text. Children will love poring over the pictures to find creatures.
Beautiful illustrations accompany the text. Children will love poring over the pictures to find creatures.
June 21, 2018
I loved the drawings (which upped the rating a little). The theme of wanting to be noticed is a little different, so that's good. Good book.
(If you are new to Kurt Cyrus, check out his other books. He's really a fine author/illustrator.)
(If you are new to Kurt Cyrus, check out his other books. He's really a fine author/illustrator.)
November 22, 2019
The illustrations alone are worth the read! A young chameleon is sad because no one notices him, despite his being "every bit as spiffy as the limb he lived on." A fun story about making friends and being noticed. A nice group read aloud.
August 15, 2017
A chameleon wants to make friends but is hampered by the fact that he blends in too well.
August 31, 2017
3.5*
Super artwork though :)
Super artwork though :)
September 14, 2017
About a chameleon who wants to be noticed by everyone, but he blends in too well with his surroundings.
September 16, 2017
The illustrations steal the show. Gorgeous
September 28, 2017
Beautifully illustrated, funny book about a lonely chameleon.
November 14, 2017
pretty cute! and kids will love finding the lizard in each page
November 25, 2017
Fun story with absolutely stunning illustrations.
December 1, 2020
I loved this book! The invisible lizard camouflaged with everything that he was on so no body was able to see him. Throughout this book it shows that the lizard is trying to get everyones attention in many different ways but still no on enoticed him. He was invisible, until finally he was able to get the animals attention and he wasnt the invisible lizard anymore. I really liked this because it shows students to be nice to everyone and it shows lots of colors to catch the students eye.
March 10, 2025
Writing: 3
Art: 4
Overview: My kids, 3.5 and 5, thought this story was funny. Napoleon the chameleon blends in so well that he has no friends because nobody else in the rain forest even knows he exists. He tries different things to no avail, till one day he finds something that works. This was a cute tale and the art was colorful. My kids liked finding Napoleon on each page.
Family friendly values: no red flags
Art: 4
Overview: My kids, 3.5 and 5, thought this story was funny. Napoleon the chameleon blends in so well that he has no friends because nobody else in the rain forest even knows he exists. He tries different things to no avail, till one day he finds something that works. This was a cute tale and the art was colorful. My kids liked finding Napoleon on each page.
Family friendly values: no red flags
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
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