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Leon Chameleon
Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs
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...
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 1993
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Jan Hurst-Nicholson
22 books49 followersJan Hurst-Nicholson has been writing for about 25 years. Her articles, humorous articles and short stories have appeared in South African and overseas magazines and these were compiled into a book: ‘Something to Read on the Plane’ a bit of light literature, short stories & other fun stuff.
Her first children’s book was ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the missing canary eggs’ published by Gecko Books, and was one of Bookchat’s 1993 South African Books of the Year. This was followed by ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the kidnapped mouse’ (both now available as e-books on Amazon) ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the bottled bat’ is awaiting publication. These are humorous, animal, detective stories set in a nature reserve.
‘Bheki and the Magic Light,’ which tells of a rural child’s fascination with a torch, was published by Penguin SA.
‘Jake,’ was published by Cambridge University Press.
The Race (an inspirational story for LEFT-HANDERS)is now avilable as an e-book
Born in the UK, Jan emigrated from Liverpool to South Africa in the 1970s. Her experiences moving to a new continent were the inspiration for her humorous novel ‘But Can You Drink The Water?’ which was a semi-finalist (top 50 out of 5000) in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
This is now available on Amazon as a Kindle digital book and has sold over 15 000 copies.
Jan worked in the R&D department of a large bakery for several years, and this gave her the idea for ‘The Breadwinners,’ a family saga spanning 50 years and set in Durban. This is now available on Amazon as a Kindle digital book.
Jan has also written a YA novel, Mystery at Ocean Drive, which was a runner-up in the 2010 Citizen/Pan MacMillan YA novel award, and is now available as a Kindle digital book.
Jan's latest novel is "With the Headmaster's Approval" a contemporary story set in the UK,
Jan has also written a non-fiction book. PUBLIC SPEAKING - Banish the Butterflies. A must-read for anyone involved with public speaking.
Jan’s writing also appears in ‘Edge Words’ (20 stories from the Cheshire Prize for Literature 2006) published by University of Chester, ‘Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul’ and ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul 101 best stories On Being a Parent,’ and ‘Summer Shorts’.
Her first children’s book was ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the missing canary eggs’ published by Gecko Books, and was one of Bookchat’s 1993 South African Books of the Year. This was followed by ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the kidnapped mouse’ (both now available as e-books on Amazon) ‘Leon Chameleon PI and the case of the bottled bat’ is awaiting publication. These are humorous, animal, detective stories set in a nature reserve.
‘Bheki and the Magic Light,’ which tells of a rural child’s fascination with a torch, was published by Penguin SA.
‘Jake,’ was published by Cambridge University Press.
The Race (an inspirational story for LEFT-HANDERS)is now avilable as an e-book
Born in the UK, Jan emigrated from Liverpool to South Africa in the 1970s. Her experiences moving to a new continent were the inspiration for her humorous novel ‘But Can You Drink The Water?’ which was a semi-finalist (top 50 out of 5000) in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
This is now available on Amazon as a Kindle digital book and has sold over 15 000 copies.
Jan worked in the R&D department of a large bakery for several years, and this gave her the idea for ‘The Breadwinners,’ a family saga spanning 50 years and set in Durban. This is now available on Amazon as a Kindle digital book.
Jan has also written a YA novel, Mystery at Ocean Drive, which was a runner-up in the 2010 Citizen/Pan MacMillan YA novel award, and is now available as a Kindle digital book.
Jan's latest novel is "With the Headmaster's Approval" a contemporary story set in the UK,
Jan has also written a non-fiction book. PUBLIC SPEAKING - Banish the Butterflies. A must-read for anyone involved with public speaking.
Jan’s writing also appears in ‘Edge Words’ (20 stories from the Cheshire Prize for Literature 2006) published by University of Chester, ‘Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul’ and ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul 101 best stories On Being a Parent,’ and ‘Summer Shorts’.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 11, 2015
Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs by Jan Hurst-Nicholson is a delightful children’s chapter book. It’s filled with interesting characters and fascinating details about real-world animals, their habitats and behaviors.
The main character, Leon Chameleon, is cool, calm and collected. He never panics or rushes to judgment. As a private investigator, he observes a crime scene very carefully to discover clues. In this particular book in the series, the crime being investigated involves Mrs. Canary’s three missing eggs.
The descriptions in this book are wonderful. While remaining true to their animal counterparts in the real world, the characters are delightfully and humorously portrayed. For example, a chameleon is the perfect animal to play the role of private investigator in this series. The following passage describes this quite well: "...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 forwards 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."
Another animal perfectly suited to its role in the book is Constable Mole who helps Leon Chameleon with the investigation. This quote about him is perfect: "Mole worked underground. He did wonderful work, but it was always a problem finding him."
The author’s extensive knowledge of animals and her tremendous skill at weaving that information into an entertaining book for children is impressive. This is a book that both children and adults can enjoy reading together.
The main character, Leon Chameleon, is cool, calm and collected. He never panics or rushes to judgment. As a private investigator, he observes a crime scene very carefully to discover clues. In this particular book in the series, the crime being investigated involves Mrs. Canary’s three missing eggs.
The descriptions in this book are wonderful. While remaining true to their animal counterparts in the real world, the characters are delightfully and humorously portrayed. For example, a chameleon is the perfect animal to play the role of private investigator in this series. The following passage describes this quite well: "...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 forwards 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."
Another animal perfectly suited to its role in the book is Constable Mole who helps Leon Chameleon with the investigation. This quote about him is perfect: "Mole worked underground. He did wonderful work, but it was always a problem finding him."
The author’s extensive knowledge of animals and her tremendous skill at weaving that information into an entertaining book for children is impressive. This is a book that both children and adults can enjoy reading together.
October 22, 2011
Leo Chameleon is a private detective just like Sherlock Holmes. The way he works reminds me very much of the way Holmes worked using observation & comparison to similar cases.
Together with various police forces Leo helps to uncover the truth regarding the disappearance of three canary eggs.
I love the way Hurst-Nicholson impersonated the forest creatures, just like Potter used to do with her little rabbits.
“Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs” is a fantastic study of animal habits and behaviours put, in an easy way to understand, to a young reader.
I really enjoyed the interaction between the different species and the little fears and disagreements they would face while trying to create a forest community.
My son adored the illustrations and was imitating all the animals he knew.
I would recommend this book to children age 3-10, teacher’s & librarian’s.
I’m looking forward to reading the next story because Leon did grab my heart.
December 17, 2017
What a charming chapter book! Nicholson succeeds in creating a clever detective mystery for middle-grade readers. At the same time, the soft illustrations encourage reluctant readers and beginning readers transitioning to chapter books to handle the ten chapters. The text is large and easy to read. Using the technique of personification, Nicholson endows animal creatures like Leon, the chameleon, and Egg Eater the snake with human personalities and a sense of humor. Readers will enjoy practicing their sleuthing skills as they attempt to unravel the mystery of the missing canary eggs. I especially enjoyed the trial process and the very clever dialogue.
This book is part of a series. Although this is my first read, I would explore reading the others. I heartily recommend this book for middle-grade readers, reluctant readers, and mystery lovers. Clever characters and crisp dialogue keep the story interesting. Enjoyable for readers of all ages.
This book is part of a series. Although this is my first read, I would explore reading the others. I heartily recommend this book for middle-grade readers, reluctant readers, and mystery lovers. Clever characters and crisp dialogue keep the story interesting. Enjoyable for readers of all ages.
August 27, 2011
Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs
By: Jan Hurst-Nicholson
Illustrated by: Barbara McGuire
ISBN: 9780958377331
Published 1993 by Gekco Books
Available format: Paperback, ebook
My Rating: ★★★★★
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 ofLeon’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!
By: Jan Hurst-Nicholson
Illustrated by: Barbara McGuire
ISBN: 9780958377331
Published 1993 by Gekco Books
Available format: Paperback, ebook
My Rating: ★★★★★
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 ofLeon’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!
September 19, 2015
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?
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?
September 20, 2015
A Very Interesting story of how these animals had joined together to help one another out!
I liked the suspense in this story as well as the animals speaking out for themselves. It was quite interesting of how they had their court cars handled very similar to ours in the United States of America. I recommend this ebook for kids from 7-12 or in grades 2-5 who love to read animal stories just like this or anyone. For these reasons I have already stated I find it needs five stars. I received this ebook for free and here is my honest review! Great work Jan! By Angela
I liked the suspense in this story as well as the animals speaking out for themselves. It was quite interesting of how they had their court cars handled very similar to ours in the United States of America. I recommend this ebook for kids from 7-12 or in grades 2-5 who love to read animal stories just like this or anyone. For these reasons I have already stated I find it needs five stars. I received this ebook for free and here is my honest review! Great work Jan! By Angela
March 14, 2016
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!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews