Books by Nikki McClure

Mama, Is It Summer Yet?

by Nikki McClure

Young children see the passage of time through the seasonal changes to the world around them in this charming book, illustrated with Nikki McClure’s extraordinary cut-paper art. A little boy who can’t wait for summer keeps asking his mama, “Is it summer yet?” Mama says, “Not yet, little one,” then points to the signs that spring is turning to summer—the softening of the earth, the nest-building of squirrels, the singing of birds—and encourages her son to savor the beauty of spring.Following the success of All in a Day, Nikki McClure once again uses her unique paper cutouts to showcase wonderful images of nature and the joys of family and the outdoors, creating a book that is both timeless and fresh.
Printed on recycled paper! Praise for All in a Day

New York Times bestseller
Publishers Weekly bestseller

[STAR] “This uplifting picture book succeeds in introducing children to the perennial promise of tomorrow through lithe language and honed imagery.” —Kirkus, starred review

[STAR] “A handsome, effective piece of bookmaking that captures the glory of a day and the possibilities it holds.” —Booklist, starred review

Mama, Is It Summer Yet?

by Nikki McClure

In New York Times bestselling artist Nikki McClure’s charming board book, one little boy can’t wait for summer to arrive.

The boy keeps asking, “Mama, is it summer yet?” Mama responds saying, “Not yet,” but there are plenty of signs that indicate spring is changing into summer: The earth is soft and there are seeds to plant, birds singing, ducklings in the pond, and pink blossoms blooming. The young boy even wears his bathing suit and carries a beach pail in preparation, but will it ever be summer?

The text is a wonderful celebration of the change of seasons and showcases Nikki McClure’s images of nature and the joys of family and community.

“Striking cut-paper artwork balances beautifully with McClure’s gentle, almost old-fashioned text . . . This thoroughly pleasing board book offers young readers an opportunity to absorb themselves in the simple, hopeful gifts of the seasons.” —Shelf Awareness

To Market, to Market

by Anne Miranda, Nikki McClure

A funny twist on the classic rhyme
What happens after a shopper goes “to market, to market, to buy a fat pig”? Back home the pig promptly escapes, and soon the pig’s in the kitchen, the lamb’s on the bed, the cow’s on the couch—and the rest of the animals are wreaking havoc throughout the house!
"The skillfully wielded visual anarchy explodes off the page. This is one market trip children will wish to take again and again." —Publishers Weekly

To Market, to Market

by Anne Miranda, Nikki McClure

Known for art that celebrates the virtues of community, hard work, and living gently on the planet, Nikki McClure here explores a topic close to her heart: the farmers market. Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market. To Market, to Market is a timely book that shines awareness on the skill that goes into making good food.

Praise for To Market, to Market:
STARRED REVIEW
"These soulful images never feel static—an amazing feat for such a deliberate, painstaking medium." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

AWARD:
WINNER: 2012 Washington State Book Award, Children's Picture Books

Treasure

by Clive Cussler, Nikki McClure

Charts of lost gold...breathtaking art and rarevolumes...maps of hidden oil and mineral deposits thatcould change the world's balance of power.Now DIRK PITT discovers the secret trail of thetreasures of Alexandria -- a trail that plunges him into abrutal conspiracy for total domination of the globe. Zealotsthreaten to unseat the governments of Egypt and Mexico,exposing America to invasion and economic collapse.Suddenly, from East to West, anarchists reach their deadlytentacles into the heart of the United States.And DIRK PITT, the hard-hitting hero of Clive Cussler'ssmash bestsellers Sahara and Inca Gold, is up against themost feared assassin known to man. An international bandof terrorists is making its play for world power on the highseas -- and Pitt is the only man alive who can stop them!

Treasure

by Clive Cussler, Nikki McClure

This new notecard box format features the beautiful handcrafted papercut illustrations of artist Nikki McClure.

How to Be a Cat

by Nikki McClure

In cut-paper artist Nikki McClure’s latest picture book, a kitten practices the basics of feline behavior over the course of a day. A single word of text per spread teaches readers “how to be a cat”―how to stretch, clean, pounce, feast―while the striking paper cuts illustrate the kitten’s attempts to imitate an adult cat’s mastery of each skill. At times the kitten triumphantly succeeds, and at other times the kitten struggles, in vignettes that range from whimsical to profound.
A celebration of all things feline, How to Be a Cat also tells a universal story of mastering life skills, and of the sometimes tender, sometimes stern relationship between parent and child, teacher and pupil. Cat lovers of all ages will connect to this loving portrayal of a mentor-student relationship.

Praise for How to Be a Cat
STARRED REVIEWS
"Purrrrfect for beginning readers and little artists with an eye for fine cut-paper compositions and craftsmanship."
―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A delightful picture book in every way. Beginning with the paw-print endpapers, youngsters will know that they are in for an adventure. The simplicity and flow of page design are beautifully done as viewers follow a kitten and his mother as she teaches him basic feline behavior."
―School Library Journal, starred review

"McClure's cut-paper spreads can be mesmerizing."
―Publishers Weekly

"McClure wonderfully captures the shape and movement of the feline form, and kids will also enjoy pointing out the blue and white butterflies and the black-capped chickadee that also appear on several pages."
―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Perfect for cat lovers of all ages, the book helps us reconnect with memories of our own jouney of growth and learning."
―Cat Fancy

How to Be a Cat

by Nikki McClure

In Nikki McClure’s tender board book, a kitten practices the basics of feline behavior over the course of a day.

A single word of text per spread teaches readers “how to be a cat”—how to stretch, clean, pounce, feast—while the striking paper cuts illustrate the kitten’s attempts to imitate an adult cat’s mastery of each skill. At times, the kitten triumphantly succeeds, and at other times the kitten struggles, in vignettes that range from whimsical to profound.

A celebration of all things feline, How to Be a Cat also tells a universal story of mastering life skills, and of the loving relationship between parent and child.

In

by Nikki McClure

I only want to stay in.
In my pajamas.
Inside.
In. In. In.
For a boy and his toy giraffe, today is the perfect day to stay in. Snug in his pajamas, he reads books, bakes popovers, and plays with a big wicker basket—that he transforms into a rocket ship to fly in “innerspace.” But soon, the outdoors is too tempting to resist, and he takes his wild imagination into
nature. That is, until it’s time to come inside again.
Illustrated with the gorgeous paper cuts for which Nikki McClure is known, In reminds us of the essential childhood pleasures found in an engaged day of imaginative play and exploration, without electronics, scheduled activities, or adults.

Waiting for High Tide

by Nikki McClure

For one young boy, it's a perfect summer day to spend at the beach with his family.
He scours the high tide line for treasures, listens to the swizzling sound of barnacles, and practices walking the plank. But mostly he waits for high tide. Then he'll be able to swim and dive off the log raft his family is building. While he waits, sea birds and other creatures mirror the family's behaviors: building and hunting, wading and eating. At long last the tide arrives, and human and animal alike savor the water.
Another beautiful ode to life lived in harmony with nature, and by the labor of one's own hands, from an artist of great warmth and clarity, Nikki McClure.

How to Cook the Perfect Day

by Nikki McClure

How to Cook the Perfect Day is filled with beautiful images and simple recipes with headnotes that dreamily document a perfect day--including a picnic rendezvous, an afternoon tea, and a midnight snack. The book opens with the suggestion of a morning forage in the great outdoors instead of in the kitchen pantry for whatever readers can find to nibble on. A recipe for peaches and waffles follows; it's a breakfast treat McClure's husband makes for the family often. Recipes for a lovely gingerbread cake, a curry potluck, and a celestial apple pie are all accompanied by Nikki McClure's elegant artwork.

What Will These Hands Make?

by Nikki McClure

A picture book that celebrates community and creativity from acclaimed cut-paper artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator Nikki McClure

This lyrical story from a beloved creator follows a family through one day and muses in the possibilities that one day holds—from enjoying treats at the bakery, to admiring handmade goods from local artisan shops, to observing the new construction in town.

Illuminating themes of community, creativity, and collaboration, What Will These Hands Make? dares the reader to dream up everything they can be and all the ways they can leave their little corner of the world better than they found it.

“This celebration of citizenry and craft is a poignant reminder of the objects and places that makers weave . . . The book’s appeal spans a wide range: younger readers will enjoy the seek-and-find aspect, and older readers may find inspiration in its vision of daily life and communal innovation.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

The Next 1000 Days: A Journal of Ages Two to Six

by Nikki McClure

Track the transformative years from toddler and “big kid” with this interactive journal for parent and child. This beautiful companion to the best-selling The First 1000 Days journal (over 50,000 copies sold) helps parents capture the precious ages between two and six. From losing a first tooth to the first day of school, Nikki McClure's beautiful paper cut illustrations celebrate all the special moments. Parents can also write and draw with their child to help bring these years to life and preserve them for all time.

Apple

by Nikki McClure

The life cycle of an apple, illustrated by acclaimed cut-paper artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator Nikki McClure

This board book, featuring Nikki McClure’s signature papercuts, follows the journey of a bright red apple—the only splash of color in the otherwise black-and-white illustrations—as it travels from tree to harvest to snack to compost and, finally, to sprout.

In the opening spread, a ripe, red apple falls from a tree, and a man gathers it to take home. His daughter takes the apple to school for lunch, but mistakenly drops it after taking a bite. Left on the ground, we see the apple buried as the seasons change and children come and go on the playground above. On the final spread, the buried apple has produced an apple tree sprout.

A single word complements each illustration, urging early readers to reflect on each stage in the apple’s life.

Apple

by Nikki McClure

Apple follows the life of an apple throughout the year, demonstrating the cyclical patterns in nature. The youngest readers will delight in following the journey of the bright red apple--the only splash of color in the otherwise black-and-white illustrations--as it travels from tree, to harvest, to snack, to compost, and finally to sprout. A single word complements each illustration, urging early readers to reflect on each stage in the apple's life.
Apple is acclaimed cut-paper artist Nikki McClure's very first book, originally self-published and sold in a limited edition of just 200 copies. Now, 16 years later, it is available in wide release, and fans will relish the chance to own the book that launched McClure's signature style.

Praise for Apple
STARRED REVIEW
"Run your fingers across this satisfyingly square book's cover and feel the subtle, smooth outlines of a ripe apple and simple letters. You'll immediately sense the solid, soothing storytelling at work inside, achieved through astute manipulations of paper."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The art is gorgeous, the text is one-word-per-page minimal and the "story" is sprinkled with welcome surprises."
--The New York Times Book Review

"The emphasis on the cycle of life makes this a useful classroom and library addition."
--School Library Journal

The Great Chicken Escape

by Nikki McClure

Good morning, Chickens. Chickens run! Chickens roam. Chickens go home. Chickens, good night.

This simple and spare picture book about four chickens fleeing their coop for the day in the Alaska wild features Nikki McClure’s signature cut-paper artwork and a beautiful die-cut cover.

Rally: A Nikki McClure Journal

by Nikki McClure

Nikki McClure’s new journal features beautiful papercut images of women rallying to defend, renew, astound, and connect with the world around them.

Drawn from Nikki McClure's bestselling calendar, the simple but evocative papercut images in Rally show women being brave, taking risks, and pushing forward in their lives. McClure creates her all of powerful images using a single piece of black paper and an X-acto knife, giving them graceful, singular appeal. This blank journal, intended for capturing thoughts and ideas, drawing, creating lists, or using as a personal diary, will inspire women everywhere with its timely and powerful images.