Howard the average Gecko by Wendy Meddour illustrated by Carmen Saldaña

Howard is skilled with camouflage. He thinks he is SO special and unique. Of course this is not true. His boasting really annoys all the other rainforest creatures who are also terrific at camouflage. 

"But if I'm not the most camouflaged creature in the rainforest, then what am I? ... I can't just be average! ... Because who will love me if I'm just an average gecko?"

I'm sure you have guessed there is someone who will love Howard. Yes, it is a girl gecko - I love her purple skin. But wait - the ending is going to send your young reading companion into fits of giggles. There is a brief fact page at the back of the book with a simple explanation of camouflage. See inside this book here. Howard the average Gecko was published in 2021 and as far as I can see it is still available in paperback. If you read this book to your preschool group there is sure to be a lot to talk about in terms of talents, identity, love and of course the skill and purposes camouflage. 

Illustrations—rendered in watercolor, pencil, and digital—are cute and geometric yet rich, capturing the beautiful light and colors of the rainforest. Almost every page has hidden animals for young readers to find. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Children will especially enjoy pointing out camouflaged animals in this sweet and funny book. Kirkus

I picked up this book from the library I visit each week because I really do not like lizards and I am especially fearful of geckos due to a childhood incident where I watch one drop its tail as a defense mechanism and that piece of tail just kept flipping over and over - it was horrible. 

I have talked about other books by Wendy Meddour. 

Tisha and the Blossom

Lubna and Pebble

Here are some illustrated by Carmen Saldaña - she lives in Spain:

The Robin and the Reindeer