A Chameleon Tale: A Colorful Sensory Story

A Chameleon Tale: A Colorful, Sensory Story by Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L and illustrated by Jackie Adrian offers a vibrant and accessible way for children (and their caregivers) to explore sensory processing and regulation.

The story follows a chameleon family on an outing to “Chameleon Café,” using each character’s changing colours, expressions, and reactions to illustrate how different people respond to sensory input.

Teachers can use A Chameleon Tale: A Colorful Sensory Story as an engaging way to help children understand and talk about sensory regulation. By reading the story aloud, teachers can guide students to notice how the chameleons’ colors change in response to different sensory experiences—linking this to how our own bodies and emotions react to sound, light, movement, or touch. After reading, the class can discuss what helps them feel “just right,” and create a “color zones” chart or sensory toolbox to identify calming or alerting strategies. The book’s visuals and simple metaphor make it accessible for all learners, encouraging empathy, self-awareness, and positive ways to manage sensory needs in the classroom.

A Chameleon Tale A Colorful Sensory Story