Books with author Nikki McClure

In this 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.

The life cycle of an apple, illustrated by acclaimed cut-paper artist 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.

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 CatSTARRED 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 FancyÂ

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 AppleSTARRED 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

Waiting for High Tide has earned two STARRED reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus! 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.

In this charming book, one little boy can’t wait for summer to arrive. He 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’s images of nature and the joys of family and community.

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.

In this charming book, one little boy can’t wait for summer to arrive. He 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’s images of nature and the joys of family and community.

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

A picture book that celebrates community and creativity from acclaimed cut-paper artist Nikki McClure This lyrical picture book from beloved creator Nikki McClure 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.

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