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.

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 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.

"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"