'Coco The Chameleon' By Stefanie Annis: A Unique Look At Life

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA —Orange County author Stefanie Annis recently sat down with Patch to discuss her newly released childrens book "Coco The Chameleon." Within the tender pages of the brightly illustrated story, she teaches us that self acceptance is a journey worth taking.

Living in a gorgeous community like Laguna Niguel, Annis says that like many, she has long struggled with wanting to be "more."

Coco the Chameleon loves who she is, inside and out...until her first day of school. When Coco meets her new classmates, she suddenly wishes she could be anyone other than herself...but what if she really could be? Would Coco discover that being herself is actually the best of all?

"Writing 'Coco the Chameleon' changed that for me," she says.

The journey of one little chameleon's first day at school teaches a big lesson.

Upon arriving in the classroom, this little guy, beautifully illustrated by Chelsea Bishop, gets a big lesson in how everyone is different and that differences are something to be celebrated.

Annis tells Patch that when she started the story, the words poured out of her. The southern California native says she has always struggled with comparing herself to others, wishing to be more like anyone but herself.

"It was a story I had been living with my whole life," shes says. "I sent it to my family and friends and they all loved it. I knew it was a story I needed to share with the world."

Annis veered from traditional publishing and instead acted as her own publisher, through IngramSpark. She selected Bishop as her illustrator in a partnership to compel readers to relate to the character of Coco.

"Chelsea is not only a talented artist, she is also sweet and fun to work with," Annis says. "She was extremely passionate about the message of the story, which made the whole process even more fun."

Through the artwork, and the self-study pages that follow, children can be inspired create their own "one in a chameleon" character.

"It's so important to build self-love and acceptance at an early age and for kids to understand that there has never been anyone just like them in this world," she says.

The book was a study in why we compare ourselves to others, and how to find true acceptance in yourself. The children's book is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and is ideal for children aged 4-8. Like any good read, adults will also find themselves within the story.

Annis plans on holding book signings through the summer, so watch your Patch calendar to find her next appearance.

"If through Coco's story I can make just one reader feel uniquely special, that is a dream come true," she says. "Just like Coco, each and every one of us is one in a chameleon, too."

Get your copy of Coco the Chameleon on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Ebay and follow the author at: www.StefanieAnnis.com.