The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon: New Beginnings

By Ellen L. Buikema

Moving and making new friends is tough! When Charlie Chameleon and his family start their adventure in New Town, Charlie discovers he is braver than he knows. With his bossy pet fish, Frankie, by his side, he faces many challenges, including standing up to the neighborhood bully.

These multicultural stories are intended for second and third grade students as well as advanced first graders to read independently. Children ages three through nine will enjoy the antics of the characters in the Charlie books. To the author’s surprise, these books are being enjoyed by a wider audience than expected.

Reading the series helps children develop empathy and cultivate insight into their lives. The stories cover situations children typically encounter like getting lost, moving, starting a new school, making friends, family vacations, working in a team, and dealing with bullies using a positive method.

The animals possess human characteristics. Charlie Chameleon takes Frankie the fish wherever he goes. If the fish in Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat represents the Superego, Frankie, one of the feistier characters in the series, is all Id. Frankie wants everything, and he wants it right now.

Each chapter ends with one or more activities for children and parents or teachers to do together, related to the actions in the stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellen L. Buikema
• Release date: Mar 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9780990897958

Ellen L. Buikema

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents and a series of chapter books for children, The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon, with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Work In Progress, The Hobo Code, is a YA historical fiction novel, loosely based on her family history. Find her at http://ellenbuikema.com, https://www.amazon.com/Ellen-L.-Buikema-M.Ed./e/B00THGTSA6, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, https://www.youtube.com/c/EllenLBuikema?gvnc=1 for Sock Puppet Tim videos, and https://www.itmattersradio.com for a podcast interview.

Book preview

Our New Home

Charlie Chameleon

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Charlie Chameleon sat up in bed. His tail was wrapped around his blanket. Charlie looked at his pet fish swimming in the aquarium. Frankie, it’s time for breakfast.

Frankie swam to the top of the tank. "Yummy.

Do I get Sugar Buggies?"

I don’t know, Frankie. Sugar Buggies make you hyper.

Pleeeease, just a few?

Oh, okay. I guess it won’t hurt. Let’s go downstairs, Frankie.

Frankie swam in circles, jumped into the air, and landed with a splash in his fishbowl, right next to his aquarium.

Charlie walked downstairs cradling Frankie, safe in the fishbowl, by his arm. Frankie went everywhere with Charlie.

Papa Chameleon sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee as he read his newspaper. Good morning, Charlie. Mama made us a wonderful breakfast. Papa gave Mama a big smile.

Charlie, put Frankie down and eat your waxworm cereal while it’s still warm, said Mama.

Frankie blew bubbles out of his fishbowl. One bubble landed on Charlie’s breakfast. Another bubble popped on Charlie’s nose. Yuck. Fish breath. Frankie, stop blowing bubbles. Here, have some Sugar Buggies.

Papa got up from the table and gave Mama and Charlie a hug. He whistled to himself as he got ready to go to work. Papa had great news and wanted to tell his family, but he was not sure how Mama and Charlie would feel.

Family Breakfast

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Just before dinner, Charlie sat at the kitchen table, coloring a spaceship in his new activity book.

Frankie poked his head out of the fish bowl. Charlie, let me help you. There’s not enough color. Frankie spat water on Charlie’s page. The book was soaked.

Frankie, the water didn’t help. It just messed up my book. I should bring you upstairs, so you can’t wreck my stuff. Charlie stood up and was about to take Frankie upstairs when he heard Papa come in the front door.

"Mama, Charlie, I have good news! Come sit with me in the