Operation Photobomb

July 1, 2019
One good thing comes from humans visiting the jungle habitat of various animals--new toys! This is the sentiment that inspires two of the animals--Monkey and Chameleon--to rummage through a backpack. Monkey discovers an old-school Polaroid-style camera. He sets off on a new hobby, photographing the macaws, capybaras, sloths, and other animals in this implausible crew of jungle friends. When Chameleon feels left out, not having the opportunity to join in any of the photos, he starts jumping into the others' pictures at the last second--a classic photobomb! The animals conspire to form a plan that teaches Chameleon a lesson, and Chameleon finds a group who actually enjoys his new photobombing trick. Illustrations in this upbeat offering are lush and playful. Readers will enjoy searching for Chameleon in each of the photos, especially when he begins changing colors to blend in with his surroundings. The narrative is a lighthearted take on the trickster tale, in which animals are anthropomorphized and act out challenging emotions, such as jealousy and frustration, that will resonate with young readers. The animals included provide opportunities for readers to encounter uncommon vocabulary and indicate a South American setting. Humans are ancillary to the story but include diverse skin shades when depicted. A fanciful foray into lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8)

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