In The Chameleon Who Couldn't Change Colors by Nielle P. Marques, Frilly, a green chameleon, notices she cannot change her color like her friends Camy and Oscar. She tries concentrating on red and sunbathing, but her green hue remains. Frilly then covers herself in red paint, exploring how it affects her visibility and ability to blend in with her surroundings. When a snake appears, the red paint makes her more noticeable, and rain eventually washes it away, revealing her natural green again. During these events, Frilly interacts with her friends, tests different approaches, and observes the outcomes of altering her appearance. By the end, she returns to green, continuing her life in the rainforest while remaining part of her friend group and her environment.

The Chameleon Who Couldn't Change Colors by Nielle P. Marques is an absolute delight for young readers and anyone who enjoys charming, imaginative storytelling. Frilly is a green chameleon that we really want to root for, like people we may know who, in real life, dream of being more like others, even when it is who they are that makes them special. Marques brings the rainforest to life with illustrations in a gorgeous tropical palette, created using paint and pencil on mixed media and tissue paper, giving every page a spectacular texture, brightness, and movement that feel almost tangible. The story shines as Frilly experiments with different ways to change her color, but also shows the consequences of not trusting who we are, as we are, and the lovely message of discovering the joy of her own unique appearance. This book is a lovely, colorful treasure for children and families alike.

The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Change Colors by Nielle P. Marques is a brightly illustrated story about identity, friendship, and acceptance. The story features Frilly, a young chameleon who feels out of place because, unlike her friends, she cannot change into the dazzling shades of the rainbow. Her desire to be red, a color she associates with beauty and excitement, drives the story as she tries various ways to transform, from basking in the sun to jumping into a pot of paint. Young readers will enjoy Frilly’s inventive yet misguided attempts, like drenching herself in paint, and will understand the core message that trying to be someone we are not can sometimes put us in danger. This is most evident when a snake nearly catches her because the red paint makes her easier to see. It’s only when the rain washes the color away, returning her to her natural green, that Frilly realizes the importance of being herself.

Nielle P. Marques’s illustrations are reminiscent of Eric Carle's. Her use of acrylic paint, colored pencil, and tissue textures for the illustrations creates a tactile quality that reflects the warmth of the text. The rainforest is a lively space where Frilly’s emotional highs and lows are echoed in the environment. The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Change Colors offers a heartfelt reminder that self-acceptance is more powerful than mimicry. Frilly’s happiness doesn’t come from altering her appearance but from embracing the beauty of her natural self, supported by her friends' love. It’s a story perfect for read-alouds at home or in classrooms, sparking conversations about individuality and friendship in ways that are both engaging and comforting.