A Screech Owl heads out to hunt at twilight but her attempts at capturing prey are thwarted by one of nature’s best defenses: crypsis, or camouflage and disguise. In a spare narrative that accompanies striking, hand-colored linocut illustrations, Narelle Oliver depicts the Screech Owl’s journey through the night as one creature after another appears . . . and then disappears before she can catch it. Finally the Screech Owl is able to snatch a Luna Moth from the air, only to realize she is being watched by a Great Horned Owl who just might want to snatch her. It turns out the Screech Owl is a master of crypsis, too, as she alights on a rough-barked tree and disappears. A detailed end- note provides additional information on how camouflage and disguise work in nature. Oliver’s captivating art will provide careful observers with the fun of discovery, as she has incorporated numerous examples of crypsis into each illustration. (Ages 3–8)

A twilight background creates a mysterious world where sight cannot be trusted and creatures appear and disappear at will. The rhythmic words describe a magical microcosm where strange and beautiful creatures cleverly camouflage themselves to become invisible to predators. The Screech Owl squints its eyes to track its prey and together with the reader, seeks out amazing beings hidden among the bark and leaves. Narelle portrays a slice of nature that is often ignored by humans. She uses the silent ad tense world of predators and prey to provide an alluring lesson about nature. At the back of the book is a key to each page that shows where all the creatures are hidden in the illustrations. The book also includes information about the use of camouflage, disguise, and behavioral techniques for survival as well as a bibliography.