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Children’s Book of the Day: “A Chameleon Tale,” by Sarah Collins • Illustrated by Jackie Adrian
About the book: At any given moment, we take in information about our world through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, and joints. This, sensory processing, is how we experience our world and is unique to each person. Our job as parents, caregivers, and adults in influential roles is not only to take notice of our own sensory systems, but to help children do the same. The goal of this manuscript is to bring awareness to this topic and supply tools for discussion.
“We, the authors, in a real-life OT session, realized the need for this book when Sarah didn’t have a children’s book to recommend for Jackie’s child. Jackie had already completed two children’s books and said, ‘Well, let’s create what we need!'”
A Chameleon Tale uses the changing color of the chameleons’ skin, differing facial expressions, and a variety of actions to illustrate how a sensory threshold can influence individual alertness. Likewise, as humans, our bodies, expressions, and actions also reflect specific levels of alertness. This text, accompanied by the demonstrative changing colors of skin, prompts children to recognize that this fluctuation is normal. Further, it helps communicate that there are tools to help when feelings (derived by our sensory inputs) impact their success in what they need and want to do. The book’s characters, our chameleon family, will journey outside of their familiar environment, something we ask our kids to do most days of the year. Notice how this seemingly simple task affects each chameleon differently.
The more experts (like co-author Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L) learn about neurodiversity and the brain / body response to environmental stimuli, the greater they are realizing people process and integrate sensory stimuli differently. Through this story, the readers will gain a better understanding of their own brain / body connection and honor their unique responses while simultaneously empathizing with other’s responses in the same environmental situations. Though every child and caregiver combo will benefit from communicating about their sensory needs, this book will be especially helpful for the neurodivergent community and their families. Use this book as a starting point for conversation with the children in your life.
Font: Avenir (visual scanning and dyslexia-friendly)
Age Group Suggestion: 6-11 years
Sarah Collins, founder of HomeschoolOT
About Author Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, an occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT. With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together. Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best. Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way. Learn more: homeschoolot.com
Illustrator Jackie Adrian
About Illustrator Jackie Adrian: Creating art is playtime for me, whether it is writing, illustrating, or working on a new surface pattern design. If you know my art, you know I layer color, pattern, and push the limits on what can play nicely together, creating something entirely fresh and vibrant. I am inspired by travel – trying to explore new places a few times a year – which always brings me unique perspectives I want to share through color, shapes, or words. I believe in making a life worth celebrating, so being surrounded by interiors that echo the energy I want to feel inspires my designs. Maximum color, design risks, and whimsy are welcome here. I love wholesaling, licensing, and collaborations, so let’s offer something beautiful together! Learn more: jackieadrian.com
