Kindle Edition Amazon Just4kix Books Category:  Children Publisher: Just4Kix books ISBN-10:  1515294455 Type: Fiction Pages: 109 Copyright: Jan 1993 ISBN-13: 9780958377331 Price: $2.99 (eBook) A humorous animal detective story for 7 - 12 yr olds.  When Mrs Canary’s eggs mysteriously disappear, a frantic Mr Canary dashes straight off to the Pigeon Valley Police for help. Unfortunately, Sergeant Loerie and Constable Mole’s hasty attempts to make an arrest lead them to the wrong suspects. Leon Chameleon PI, who has quietly kept an eye on developments, decides it is time to step in and offer his services – after all, isn’t he the best Private Eye in Pigeon Valley? He puts all his skills to work and finds vital clues which Loerie had overlooked. Now a daring plan is needed to trap the suspects and bring them before Spotted Eagle Owl’s Court, where Leon springs his final surprise… Janet Hurst-Nicholson draws on the habits and characteristics of the small creatures living in Pigeon Valley, Durban, to create a thrilling detective story. Barbara McGuire’s illustrations capture the story’s humour, while portraying the animals as they really are. Excerpt “Hmm, I wonder what all the commotion is?” thought Leon Chameleon, Private Investigator, edging along his favourite branch of the Pigeonwood tree. “It could be a client. I’d better take a look.” Taking a firmer grip on the branch with his toes, two on one side of his foot and three on the other, he continued his funny backwards and forwards walk along the branch. Anyone glancing into the tree would think Leon was a leaf swaying in a gentle breeze. His disguise was so good that those seeking his help sometimes went right past without seeing him. The noise suddenly increased and Leon peered down, looking for the source of the commotion. His eyes, which sat on the end of bulging conical turrets, swivelled like searchlights. He could look backwards with one eye and forward with the other, both at the same time. That was why he was so good at finding things. He was the best private eye in Pigeon Valley. “My eggs! My eggs!” Mrs Canary was crying, flapping her tiny wings in agitation. “I only left the nest for a few moments and now they’re gone.” Leon watched the canary hopping anxiously among the grass tufts to see if her precious eggs had fallen out of their tiny cup-shaped nest, which was tucked away in a thick creeper near the forest floor. “Oh, you are a birdbrain,” Mr Canary scolded his wife good-naturedly. “You’re probably looking in the wrong place.”

Perfect blend of natural history and fun storytelling
I bought this book for the pictures, but ended up enjoying it most for the story. The author strikes the exact right blend of natural observation and fun story-telling, so we learn about South African wildlife at the same time we ponder an intriguing whodunit.

My only minor complaint is the price, which I assume is due to the book being printed in color. But most of the illustrations are black and white, and I think even the color ones would have looked good in graytone. In the end, suspect the book could sell for a third of the price if it weren't printed in color.

That minor quibble aside, I'd recommend Leon Chameleon to adults and children alike. The biggest question is --- which of my friends and family should I lend it to first?

Leon is my favorite chameleon!!!!
I became a huge Leon Chameleon fan as I read Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Kidnapped Mouse, so Jan sent along the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs for me to try. My six-year-old and I read this one together a chapter at a time, which is always a fun thing for us to do (I LOVE reading with my kiddos!). Every day he would remind me we had to read our next chapter of Leon!

In the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs, the reader gets to see where it all began. Mr. and Mrs. Canary's eggs have mysteriously disappeared, and, in their haste, the Pigeon Valley Police is after the wrong suspects. Leon Chameleon steps in and offers his services, finding significant clues that were previously overlooked. Leon must lead a daring plan to rescue the eggs and trap the real culprits before it is too late.

While I think more of Leon's personality showed in the Kidnapped Mouse, he is definitely still a truly likeable chameleon! He starts out more on the sidelines, using his unique abilities to observe the action and step in at precisely the correct moment. Of course, his Uncle Leonardo is an ever-present inspiration, and, ultimately, it is his influence that leads Leon to the conclusion of the case.

Again, I love the diversity of the different characters. The illustrations are beautiful and really helped my son make more sense of the story. I also still appreciate that the writing is not over-simplified, so it helps to expand my son's vocabulary and is still appropriately entertaining for adults.

I think my favorite part of this story was when Leon goes in to lure one of the suspects away from the eggs. I can't describe the scene without spoiling the story, so you'll definitely have to check it out to find out for yourself!

Amusing, interesting, exciting and educational!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love mystery books now as an adult and I loved them when I was a kid too, and this book was a fabulous mystery story for kids! I pretty much liked everything about this book, I liked the title, I liked the characters, particularly the main character Leon Chameleon P.I., I liked how the author taught readers about the various animals in the book but in a natural way that fitted in with the story and didn't just list facts that got in the way of the story. I thought this story was amusing, and interesting and exciting, plenty of adventure, twists and turns!