I’m Bigger Than You, Swim Faster Than You and I Will Catch You

Original Title
我的身体比你大
游得比你快一定可以抓到你

Text & illustrations by
Xi Yuke (Liu Hangyu)

Pages
40

Age
4+

Published
Poplar | 21st Century Publishing House
March 2022

“I’m going to turn into a guppy.” 
“If you turn into a guppy, I will turn into a globefish.”
 “I’m bigger than you, swim faster than you and I will catch you.” 
“Then I will turn into a globefish too.”
 “If you turn into a globefish, I will turn into an octopus.”
 “I’m bigger than you, swim faster than you and I will catch you.” ...
 “You change all the time, why do you have to compare yourself to me, and why must you keep changing all the time?” 

Can this game continue? Does the fish in the hat end up catching the fish on crutches?

---

Get ready for a thrilling adventure in the underwater world with this new picture book by Xi Yuke! Follow the exciting story of two fish chasing each other in a captivating paper cutting animation. As they compete with various aquatic animals, the dynamic blue paper cut illustrations change to match the appearance and swimming style of each creature, bringing the images to life. But just when you think you know how the story will end, an unexpected twist takes the tale in a touching direction with the introduction of black pencil sketches. This beautifully crafted book is sure to provide children with a unique and emotional reading experience that they won’t soon forget.

Xi Yuke, real name Liu Hangyu, is a writer and freelance painter who was born in the north of China in 1993 and now lives in the south. He primarily writes novels and children’s books. His novel has been published in magazines such as Juvenile Literature, October Juvenile Literature, Reader, Children’s Literature, and others. He has received several awards, including the Bingxin Children’s Literature New Work Award, the 2nd Bronze Sunflower Children’s Novel Award, and the Jieli Cup Jinbo Early Childhood Literature Award. 

你变成了斗鱼，我变成了河豚，我的身体比你大，游得比你快，一定可以抓到你；
可是你也变成了河豚，那我就变成章鱼，我的身体比你大，游得比你快，一定可以抓到你；
可是你也变成了章鱼，我只好变成蝠鲼，我的身体比你大，游得比你快，一定可以抓到你;可是你也变成了蝠鲼，我只好变成鲸鱼，我的身体比你大，游得比你快，一定可以抓到你；
可是你为什么非要和我比大小呢？鲸鱼是我知道的最大的动物了。你不能再变变变了

……这个游戏还能继续下去吗？戴帽子的鱼，最终有没有抓到拄拐杖的鱼呢？结尾动人心魄，令你意想不到。

故事以两条互相追逐的”鱼儿”开始，水墨的鱼儿在剪纸的水波中，你追我赶，以四次重复结构的语言与情节，及两拍子的节奏，不断变幻水生动物的种类，展开了激烈的竞逐与抓捕游戏。
配合角色形态的变化和情节氛围的推进，画面中表征水纹的蓝色剪纸随之相应发生变化，和各种水生动物的外观特征、游动方式与速度相贴合，为静态的画面创造出动态的韵律感。水墨与剪纸塑造的紧张韵律感，在蓝色长拉页处截然而止，黑色铅笔画的登场，让故事走向一个出人意料又寓意深刻的结局。

书籍设计与故事内容，以一种简约却不简单的方式，互相印证，共同塑造出一场特别的情绪盛宴。

西雨客，本名刘航宇，写作者，自由画师，1993年生于北方，目前在南方生活。主要创作小说和图画书。小说见于《少年文艺》《十月少年文学》《读友》《儿童文学》等杂志。曾获冰心儿童文学新作奖、第二届青铜葵花儿童小说奖、接力杯金波幼儿文学奖等奖项。已出版多部儿童文学作品，代表作《你的脚下，我的脚下》曾获“青铜葵花小说奖”金奖。图画书作品《天上掉下一头鲸》获第二届“青铜葵花图画书奖”行云流水奖。