Can't Catch me by Constanze von Kitzing

"I'm going to catch you' said Little Lion. 'No, you won't."

How do the animals such as the grasshopper, frog, rabbit and chameleon escape the Little Lion? They use camouflage of course which makes for truly scrumptious illustrations. Predator - Little Lion. Prey - other animals. Defence - successful. But what will happen when a rhinoceros arrives on the scene? 

Award-winning illustrator Constanze von Kitzing delivers yet again with another charming Little Lion picturebook for young children. The muted tones of her illustrations create a gentle backdrop for the mischievous tale. The text is printed in a thick font, and with just one simple sentence per double-page, the author uses her images to further the story. As they search for the hidden creatures, children can learn about the concept of camouflage while also enjoying a light-hearted read. Children’s Books Ireland

The call-and-response dialogue makes this a fun read-aloud with older toddlers and younger preschoolers who will quickly pick up on the rhythm and flow of the simple text. School Library Journal

Constanze von Kitzing was born in Poland. She now lives in Germany. Can't Catch Me was originally published in Switzerland under the title Cache-cache. Take a look here to see a few illustrations from Can't Catch Me. For more information about Constanze here is an interview with SCWBI in Germany. 

Just recently I have been reading A family of Readers and I found these two quotes. The art in Can't Catch Me is truly "breathtaking" and the ending is "not too tidy".

"A true picture book is so much more than a sequence of words and images - the most breathtaking art, the most memorable prose, is static and lifeless without compelling page turns." Sutton, Roger and Parravano Martha V., A family of Readers, Candlewick Press, 2011. p.29

"Speaking of endings - the endings of picture books are important. They can easily be too tidy, too finished, boxing reader in rather than releasing their imaginations or making them eager for more." Sutton, Roger and Parravano Martha V., A family of Readers, Candlewick Press, 2011. p.40

The paperback edition of Can't Catch Me was published in 2019 and so this book is currently available. There are two more books which are also available in this series by Constanze von Kitzing: