Who is Neon?
Neon is a colorful chameleon who can changes the colors of his skin.
What is so special about Neon?
Neon the chameleon has a special talent: depending on the way he feels, his colors will begin to change, from the top of his head to the tip of his tail!
What does happen when Neon feels happy?
When he feels happy and excited, he turns bright green! Other times, when he feels frustrated, his colors become dull and faded.
Why a chameleon?
The author wanted to create a character that lets readers see the challenges and joys of learning a second language. Using the character’s internal dialog to describe specific situations and emotions while changing skin colors were the key elements of the story. While looking for ideas, the author realized that a chameleon was the perfect inspiration for this main character because of the chameleon’s ability to change its appearance in response to the environment.
What about his name?
It was vital for the author to give this character a unique name—a name with a special meaning that children could quickly identify and rhyme. After many attempts and after consulting with friends and colleagues, the perfect name was found: NEON the Chameleon.
How was Neon Created?
When the author decided to work with a chameleon character, the next step was to give Neon some unique features so children could connect with him. The author described Neon to the illustrator as a chameleon with big eyes, a friendly smile, and a magical, colorful tail that ended in a STAR to make him one of a kind! Neon had to be hard-working, friendly, curious, and especially brave.