New Zealand children’s book author Danni Rae offers a colourful and fun introduction to ecosystems around the world in her latest picture book, Calum the Chameleon, being released early December from Little Love/Mary Egan Publishing.
Danni has worked with animals for over 15 years as a zookeeper, wildlife biologist and tour guide, and created two earlier nature-themed books, Kara the Kākāpō (2022) and Harry the Hermit Crab (2023)
Her new book is inspired by her own travels to Madagascar.
“I had the opportunity to work in a beautiful forest surveying wildlife for Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG),” says Danni. “The weeks I spent in the forest trying to spot animals hidden in the vegetation gave me the idea of an interactive children’s book. A virtual game of ‘hide and seek’, where the reader can visit each ecosystem and find the cool creatures that live there.”
Calum the Chameleon is ideal for young readers aged three to six years. The main character is a parson’s chameleon which live in the forests of eastern Madagascar. He is named after the scientific name for his species, Calumma parsonii and takes readers on a page-by-page adventure exploring the world’s ecosystems and what makes each ecosystem special.
Danni says, “Animals are hidden throughout the amazing illustrations by Evan Heasman (aka Soju Shots) to make this story a fun and engaging way to learn about what species live in different environments. Each page is a journey to a new, beautiful corner of the Earth.
“Books can take you so many places and this one is a way for me to share some of the amazing environments around the world from the cozy comfort of home. I hope that kids are inspired to explore the natural world around them, learn about amazing wildlife, and how fun sharing an adventure with friends can be.”
As with her second book, Harry the Hermit Crab, which highlighted how plastic pollution in coastal environments impacts strawberry hermit crabs, Danni aims to educate through her entertaining and beautifully illustrated books.
“My goal is to engage kids and encourage them to learn about ecosystems. What are different types of ecosystems around the world? What makes them special? What are some animals that live in each environment? The book offers a fun summary of some of the key ecosystems around the world and could be used as a teaching resource for preschool and primary school teachers.
“The impact of humans on the environment and ongoing climate change challenges means that more and more of our natural places are being lost. If, through this story, I can help children to connect with some key environments around the world and inspire them to learn more about wildlife and nature, perhaps in the future they will be the ones protecting these amazing places and preserving them for the next generation.”
