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Nina Laden
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Private I. Guana: The Case of the Missing Chameleon Paperback – Picture Book, September 1, 1995

by Nina Laden (Author)
See all formats and editions
When Private I. Guana takes "the case of the missing chameleon," the fun begins! Chameleons are hard to find--they keep changing colors. So Private I. Guana hangs missing posters (in a variety of hues, of course!) and searches high and low, from the swamp through the forest to the Lizard Lounge, until he unexpectedly stumbles upon the clue to the mystery.
Filled with humorous wordplay and visual puns, this engaging adventure, inspired by the detective films of the 1940s, will tickle any reader's funny bone.
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  1. Reading age
    3 - 13 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 7
  5. Dimensions
    1 x 1 x 1 inches
  6. Publisher
    Chronicle Books
  7. Publication date
    September 1, 1995
  8. ISBN-10
    0811809404
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0811809405
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

--AMERICAN BOOKSELLER, Pick of the Lists, August 1995
Ace detective Private I. Guana is on the case looking for the missing Leon (a chameleon). Written in a narrative style reminiscent of early detective films and television shows, this is a fun readaloud to be enjoyed by both younger and older listeners. Humorously bold illustrations perfectly complement the tongue-in-cheek telling of this exciting story.

--INSTRUCTOR MAGAZINE
Hard-boiled American mysteries may not boast the genteel qualities of their mannered British counterparts, but they have their own oddball charm, especially when the investigator is a gumshoe like Private I. Guana. Drawing inspiration from tough guy detectives such as Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade, this trench coat-clad iguana is hired by Liz Lizard to find her missing husband, Leon. He discovers Leon, disguised as Camille, singing with the Gila Girls, the house band at the slimy Lizard Lounge. The tone is tongue-in-cheek; the dark pastel illustrations wonderfully brooding; and even the typerwriter-like typeface puts you in the mood for mystery. There are suggestions for possible sequels as I. Guana ponders his next case. Have children make up and write these sequels or think up new cases for Private I. Guana to solve.

--SEATTLE POST-INTELIGENCER, December 1995
In this witty sendup of hard-boiled fiction, a reptilian sleuth tracks the missing Leon the chameleon. "By the way," I. Guana asks his concerned client, "what color was he when you last saw him?" Full of word play, with squiggly, cartoonish pictures and an archaic typeface known as "manual typewriter."



Humorously bold illustrations perfectly complement the tongue-in-check teling of this exciting story. American Bookseller, "Pick of the Lists"

About the Author

Nina Laden grew up in the New York City area. The daughter of two artists, she studied illustration at Syracuse University. She is the author and illustrator of The Night I Followed the Dog, also published by Chronicle Books.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books (September 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811809404
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811809405
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 13 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1 x 1 x 1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Nina Laden

Nina Laden

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Nina Laden is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including Peek-a Who?, one of Scholastic Parent & Child magazine's 100 Greatest Books for Kids, and Are We There Yet? She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

GamsnEggs
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greats
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
(plot spoiler!) A cross-dressing chameleon who is missing, written in the style of a hard-boiled detective story. You gotta love it. This is a great book with which to teach children what the voice of an author means. I've bought at least 20 of these to give to friends. Nina Laden is famous for "When Pigasso met Mootisse," but this is better. So is "The Night I Followed the Dog" and "Bad Dog," both extremely well-written books. "Bad Dog" is wonderful for illustrating the unreliable narrator at a kid's level. Write more books Nina Laden!
3 people found this helpful
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Cef
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
Super cute book. Great for teaching students about character traits.
2 people found this helpful
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carrie
1.0 out of 5 stars Not for children
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
This appears to be a children’s book, but it is not.
6 people found this helpful
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Patricia Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
good story
3 people found this helpful
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Mary Curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars A book that gives new meaning to the term "lounge lizard"!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2000
This was a very entertaining and well-illustrated book - full of subtle, and not-so-subtle puns that entertains adults and kids alike. Makes your mouth water for some greasy fried grasshoppers. My kid's favorite line is now "The 'I' stands for...I'll be waiting!" Great book!
10 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Really, a children's book encouraging males to cross-dress as ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
Really, a children's book encouraging males to cross-dress as women. Why did he have to become a female to show his talent - why not remain a male and still be a singer?
9 people found this helpful
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