An absolute treat to read aloud, this comic tale puts a new spin on the story of the gingerbread man. ‘Can’t catch me!’ sings Jake, ‘I’m the fastest mouse in the world’ and he can easily outrun Tom the cat, as well as the fox and the bear. But oh dear, pride comes before a fall and Tom proves that quick thinking can win the prize. Jake is a swaggering, cheeky presence in Simona Ciraolo’s vibrant illustrations and his comeuppance is gleefully celebrated in text and pictures. Great fun.
Reviewed by Andrea Reece Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic. More reviews by Andrea Reece
About Can't Catch Me!
A wicked, wild read-aloud romp from Timothy Knapman, author of Soon, and Simona Ciraolo, winner of the Sebastian Walker Prize, this is the story of Jake ... the fastest mouse there ever was. NO ONE can catch him. Not the fox, not the wolf, not even the bear.
A wicked, wild read-aloud romp from Timothy Knapman, author of Soon, and Simona Ciraolo, winner of the Sebastian Walker Prize, this is the story of Jake ... the fastest mouse there ever was. NO ONE can catch him. Not the fox, not the wolf, not even the bear.
Can't catch me, teases Jake. I'm the fastest mouse in the world! But cunning Old Tom Cat has his eye on that sweet, young mouse for his dinner and he's got a plan
There are echoes of The Gingerbread Man in this stonker of a story but Timothy Knapman has taken the bones of the traditional tale and created a snappy spin-off that is certain to go down well with young listeners (if mine are anything to go by) who will relish its denouement. Simona Ciraolo's scenes of showing off, sprinting and strutting speak even louder than all Knapman's wonderful dialogue. This is another genius author/illustrator pairing. Red Reading Hub
Timothy's jaunty text is perfectly complimented by Simona's exquisite pencil illustrations, which almost bounce off the page with vigour. WRD
Author
About Timothy Knapman
Timothy Knapman is a children’s writer, lyricist and playwright. His children’s books have been translated into twelve languages and include Soon, illustrated by Patrick Benson, Time Now To Dream, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes, illustrated by Nikki Dyson, and the bestselling Mungo and the Picture Book Pirate series. His titles have often been featured on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. He lives in Weybridge, Surrey. Read more about the author here.
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Frequently asked questions
A wicked, wild read-aloud romp from Timothy Knapman, author of Soon, and Simona Ciraolo, winner of the Sebastian Walker Prize, this is the story of Jake ... the fastest mouse there ever was. NO ONE can catch him.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Can't Catch Me! and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
Can't Catch Me! features in the following genres: Featured Books for 5+ readers, Recommendations, Featured Books for 3+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. £6.29, down from the £6.99 cover price. Not Available.
Can't Catch Me! was written by Timothy Knapman and published by Walker Books Ltd
Can't Catch Me! has 32 pages
£6.29, reduced from £6.99. Not Available.
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