A GUIDE TO USING THIS BOOK
Private I. Guana can be used to inspire discussions about storytelling, giving and
receiving clues, and wordplay. As the book is read aloud, allow time for everyone to
look closely at the illustrations. After a complete reading, go back to the beginning
and discuss the story page by page. Children will enjoy the humor found both in the
words and illustrations.
A NOTE FROM NINA LADEN ON
WRITING THIS BOOK
"I am often asked where I got the idea for this book. Initially, I was inspired
by old detective movies. I imagined a place called The Lizard Lounge. Then one day, I put
a few words together—private eye and iguana and I came up with a character name—Private I. Guana. I had a setting, and a character, but I didn't have a story. I knew that
Private I. Guana had to solve a case, but what case? Then I thought about different reptiles.
Chameleons intrigued me because they could blend in with their surroundings. If a chameleon
were missing, it would be hard to find. That was my story. Private I. Guana: The Case of
the Missing Chameleon."
DISCUSSION TOPICS
• What does a detective do? What is a mystery? What are clues? How are mysteries solved?
• What is a disguise? Why does Private I. Guana suspect Leon might be disguised so no one
will find him?
• Private I. Guana searches in both the forest and swamp to find the missing chameleon.
What types of animals live in the forest? The swamp? What is a reptile? How many different
types of reptiles can you find in the story?
• Private I. Guana is a detective. What other jobs do the characters hold in this story?
What kinds of jobs do the people you know have?
• Imagine you are telling this story. How would you change your voice to sound like a
detective, or Camille singing? What happens if you lower your voice to tell the story? Raise
your voice?
• In this story, Leon pretends to be someone else. Think of things people do to change
their appearance. What are they? When someone changes his or her appearance, does it make you
think of anything new about that person?
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
ORAL LANUAGE
• What are the names of the characters? Why are the names funny?
• Where does the story take place? How is the setting described?
• Who is telling the story? If a different character were telling the story, how would
it change?
WRITING
• Write a new case for Private I. Guana to solve.
• Write the story in a different character's voice.
ART
• Look at the illustrations in the story. What do you like? Why?
• In the opening scene, you look down into Private I. Guana's office.
This is called perspective. How is perspective used in the art in the rest of the story?
• Look at shadows and light. What colors are used?
• Look at the first scene of Private I. Guana in his office. Do you notice details in
the illustration like the dart lying on the floor and the lollipops in his pencil cup? What
other details can you find throughout the story? What other details would you add?
• Create a drawing using pastels, chalk, crayons, or felt pens. Pick an animal, reptile,
or use your imagination, and make a character into a detective.
• Draw a picture of someone. How could you change his or her appearance?
• Pair up with a buddy and have one person write a story and the other illustrate it.
A NOTE FROM NINA LADEN ON ILLUSTRATING THIS BOOK
"When I start illustrating a book, I do tiny pencil sketches called "thumbnail sketches."
They show a basic idea of the drawing using just a few lines. Then I do research. I look at books,
photographs, and even live reptiles. This helps me draw with more detail. Then I do a full-size
detailed pencil drawing. I transfer this drawing to the final paper with charcoal. Still using a
charcoal pencil, I fill in all the shadow areas. Then I am ready to start using pastels. Pastels
are very messy and they smudge easily. The trick is to plan where all the colors go in advance. Then
when I start drawing and blending the colors (I use my fingers), I work from left to right, and top
to bottom, so that I never rest my hand on a finished area."