New Releases by Nikki McClure

From celebrated artist Nikki McClure, a lyrical and lovely picture book about a child exploring the world as he grows. A Forest: A place where you wake to birdsong and explore deer paths and coyote trails. A Family: A place where you sip cocoa and tell tales of your adventures. A Harbor: A place where you feel the wind blow and wait for tides to rise before you set sail. A Home: A place you leave to find your way in the world. A place where you are loved. A place you always return to. Gorgeously handcrafted, rooted in the nature and landscape of the Northwest, and threaded with the experience of child- and parenthood, A Forest, A Family, A Harbor, A Home is a rich and deeply felt meditation on the intimacy of home, the wonder of the world, and the magic of discovery.

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.

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.

Raise the sails and follow the wind across the green sea in this captivating marriage of lyrical prose and intricate illustrations from a renowned West Coast artist. Old wood boat remembers the wind. Dilapidated and parted from the sea, she remembers and waits as her mast cracks and blackberry vines creep across her deck. But one day, a family tows her home. Scraped, scrubbed, sanded, and varnished, she is made beautiful and seaworthy again. After libations have been poured out, the family casts off, and old wood boat embarks on adventure once more. In this love letter to sailing, heralded artist Nikki McClure tells the story of a restored boat in timeless and reverent prose that perfectly accompanies her stunning cut-paper illustrations. At once delicate and bold, each page is masterful, rendered from a single sheet of black paper with precision and care that is sure to enthrall readers from coast to coast.

A new collection of renowned artist Nikki McClure’s stunning papercuts, with a contemporary, community-minded message Gather, Navigate, Welcome, Fortify, Surrender, Save, Listen, Make Mistakes. These are some of the messages renowned artist Nikki McClure affirms in this gorgeous monograph of her papercuts. Organized by season, McClure’s work reminds us of the important things such as the change of seasons, slowing down the world for a moment so we can actually experience it, and looking up at the stars to dream. In a follow-up to her gorgeous monograph Collect Raindrops, You Are Not Too Late is a new collection of McClure’s original papercuts that have appeared in her beloved yearly calendars. All cut from a single piece of black paper with an X-Acto knife, McClure’s artwork features compelling images of everyday life, often accompanied by a powerful verb that inspires the viewer to action. McClure shares more than images, though, in this new book, interweaving her memories and making of the future, offering insight into her creative life.

Key Selling Points This book is a visually striking counting primer featuring marine life from one to ten, with the addition of larger numbers (20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 10,000, 1,000,000). Each illustration in this book was cut from a single piece of paper. Acclaimed artist Nikki McClure is well-known on the West Coast for her simple but exquisite images and produces a sought-after yearly calendar. Distinctly West Coast, this primer is a perfect gift for visitors. This high-concept picture book will look as beautiful on a coffee table as it does on a bookshelf.

“Themes of community, creativity, and craft are at the heart of this book about a family preparing for a grandmother’s birthday celebration.” —School Library Journal 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. “Capitalized headers boldly ask “WILL THESE HANDS MAKE,” with possibilities unfurling in lyrical, lucid verse beneath. Awe-inspiring double-page spreads show a busy town from multiple, miraculous perspectives . . . Extraordinary artwork inspires young people to use their hearts and hands.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “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) “Careful viewers will be delighted to find scenes revisited in closer detail and from different vantage points . . . The clever bookmaking technique, which moves between the busy scene and its individual sections, produces the joy of a shared experience in which all hands combine.” —Booklist

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.

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

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.

Ein tragischer Verlust. Eine verzweifelte Reise. Eine Mutter sucht die Wahrheit. Im Dezember 1377 starben vier Kinder bei einem Hausbrand. Die Dörfler reisten hunderte Meilen quer durch England, um Gerechtigkeit für den Tod ihrer Kinder zu fordern. Sünder voller Unbestand ist die Geschichte dieser schrecklichen, im tiefsten Winter unternommenen Reise, erlebt durch die Augen von Mear, einer ehemaligen Nonne, die seit einem Jahrzehnt in der Verkleidung eines stummen Mannes gelebt und ihren Sohn in diesem isolierten Dorf großgebracht hat. Jahrelang hat sie sich und ihre Geschichte verborgen gehalten. Aber auf dieser Reise wird sie die Kraft finden, ein in der Vergangenheit gegebenes Versprechen einzulösen. Mear beginnt ihre Reise voller Angst und Schmerz und erfährt am Ende Triumph und Transzendenz. Der bemerkenswerte neue Roman Sünder voller Unbestand von Ned Hayes, illustriert von Nikki McClure, Bestsellerautorin und –illustratorin der New York Times, erhellt das Mittelalter mit profundem Verständnis und Mitgefühl. Er wurde nominiert für den "Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award" und erhielt sehr gute Rezensionen von den Beststellerautoren historischer Romane Karen Maitland, Brenda Vantrease, Kathryn Le Veque und Ella March Chase. “Eine Pilgersaga würdig eines Chaucer, stimmungsvoll, überzeugend ... kunstvoll von einem meisterhaften Geschichtenerzähler erzählt.” – Brenda Rickman Vantrease, Beststellerautorin, New York Times "Brillant ... ein Kunstwerk ... faszinierend und eindringlich. Sehr empfehlenswert." – Kathryn Le Veque, Bestsellerautorin, USA Today "Brillant geschrieben und wunderschön ausgeführt. Eine wahre Freude zu lesen." -- Booklist (hervorgehobene Rezension)

Capture the precious moments of childhood with The First 1000 Days (75,000 sold) and The Next 1000 Days. These beautiful journals accompany parents through the first six years of their child's life, with room to record important firsts, new discoveries, and day-to-day adventures. Filled with Nikki McClure's lovingly crafted paper cut art, each journal evokes both a child's sense of wonder and the tenderness of parenthood.

"Gorgeous . . . it's a stroll through winter, spring, summer and fall, as the reader savors her beautifully composed images of nature and family life." — The Seattle Times Gather, Navigate, Welcome, Fortify, Surrender, Save, Listen, Make Mistakes. These are some of the messages renowned artist Nikki McClure affirms in this gorgeous monograph of her paper cuts. Organized by season, these delicate pieces exude an optimism that revolves around community, sustenance, parenting, and appreciating both urban and rural landscapes. McClure's work reminds us of the important things: the change of seasons, slowing down the world for a moment so we can actually taste it, looking up at the stars to dream. This reissue of the 2007 art book includes sixty-four pages of new, breathtaking art. At a smaller trim size than the original, this volume makes the perfect gift. "Absolutely beautiful in its entirety." — Brain Pickings

"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) 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. "Purrrrfect for beginning readers and little artists with an eye for fine cut-paper compositions and craftsmanship." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "The lively verbs and pictures will inspire young readers to imitate the kitten's actions, all the way to the last page, when the two cats curl up to 'Dream.' Part concept book of actions, part a day in the life of a cat, the pages provide two kinds of narratives, no small feat for such a simple-looking story." — New York Journal of Books "McClure's cut-paper spreads can be mesmerizing." — Publishers Weekly "McClure wonderfully captures the shape and movement of the feline form." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the New York Times-bestselling artist. “Exact, masterful cut-paper illustrations bring the market’s smells, produce, bustle and cheery people to life.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) WINNER: Washington State Book Award, Children’s Picture Books 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. “McClure’s papercuts of windblown hair, vegetable leaves, craftsmen at work, and beds of hay continue to delight. This is, in effect, two books in one: younger readers can stick to the gentle introductions to sections about kale, smoked salmon, honey, blueberry turnovers, cheese, and even napkins; older children will appreciate (and have the patience to sit through) each product’s path to market.” —Publishers Weekly “Astonishingly detailed.” —School Library Journal

This beautiful journal is filled with Nikki McClure's signature images and ideas for embracing beauty, joy, and courage in the journey toward motherhood. Embrace is an aid to help women celebrate the growing life inside them and embrace the transformation of their body and mind. Women can develop their capacity to desire, discover, embrace, grow, dream, prepare, transform, welcome, and nurture. Filled with new gorgeous paper-cut artwork, the journal's colorful pages and thoughtful directives encourage women to record their pregnancy from the first month through the welcoming of their little one into the world.

This beautiful new journal from popular paper-cut artist Nikki McClure is divided into four sections: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Each section features an opening list page, where seasonal plans can be written down, along with gentle suggestions of such activities as identify mushrooms, build a fire, make ice cream, or share a secret swimming spot. Gardeners can note plants they're growing or planning to grow, students can keep track of coursework, foodies can jot down when their favorites are in season, and anyone can organize plans and favorite seasonal activities. Scattered amongst the pages are full-page re-creations of Nikki McClure's art, including old favorites and brand-new works. Considering its seasonal divisions and its open-to-interpretation blank pages, the journal can also be used by those who want to keep an annual diary.

This gorgeous new journal from popular paper-cut artist Nikki McClure is the perfect place to record all the projects to build, plans to make, recipes to cook, things to wish for, books to read, places to travel, presents to give, and experiences to discover, to name just a few. Based loosely on her Things to Make and Do 2008 Calendar, the journal's simple text and starkly beautiful images offer readers inspiration to write down their aspirations and dream projects, and to take the steps necessary to achieve them.

A board book for babies who are just learning how to go from Awake to Nap This beautiful board book showcases acclaimed artist Nikki McClure's delicate and simple yet stunning papercut artwork. Perfect to read with young children before bedtime, each papercut features a baby exploring the world in some way. Children can learn the beginning of the alphabet from A for Awake to N for Nap—at which point, the baby nods off to sleep. This is a high-concept alphabet book—beautiful enough that adults would want to buy it but also delightful for children.

This baby journal with Nikki McClure's papercut illustrations dividing sections devoted to baby's first tree, moon, garden embodies Nikki's lifestyle and art. She modeled the organization after the journal she started when her son was born. The sections focus on recording baby's interaction with the natural world.