Awake to Nap

by Nikki McClure

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2006

About the author

Nikki McClure of Olympia, Washington is known for her painstakingly intricate and beautiful paper cuts. Armed with an X-acto knife, she cuts out her images from a single sheet of paper and creates a bold language that translates the complex poetry of motherhood, nature, and activism into a simple and endearing picture.

Nikki McClure is a self-taught artist who has been making paper-cuts since 1996. As one of the more prominent visual artists involved with Olympia-based record labels K and Kill Rock Stars, as well as the Riot Grrrl movement in the early nineties, her work still embodies the fiercely independent fire that fueled the passion and creativity of that time period. She lives in Olympia, Washington.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paper artist and local Olympian, Nikki McClure, wrote this board book after the birth of her fist son. The beautifully simplistic paper-cut artwork illustrates the letters of the alphabet, well most of them. The author, reader and baby fall asleep shortly after the letter "N".

I love Nikki McClure's artwork and this board book is a wonderful excuse to bring more of it into a home. The book is full of high-contrast color and simplicity that is appropriate for the youngest of children and appreciated by parents and care givers of all ages. Each image depicts a baby exploring their world and the few choice words tie the picture, words and letters together. In my opinion Awake to Nap is the perfect bed time story!

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book for a young toddler. I love the artwork, and then who wouldn't love an alphabet book with words like "commune," and "kale" in it?

[Mort's Kids · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conceptually I like this book, and McClure's art is always interesting but, on the whole this one leaves me groggy.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful baby board book. The illustrations are gorgeous paper cuts--it was given to me as a gift from another mom. The alphabet book concept is nothing new, but this one only goes to N! She wrote this book during the times her new baby was napping.

It's a sweet little book and a great story behind it. My favorite letter is I--for inside--shows a mom with a baby in her belly. Wonderful!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki McClure is one of my favorite artists. She lives in the Northwest (Olympia, WA) and all of her images are made with a single piece of black paper and an exacto knife. they are amazing and you can buy them at buyolympia.com

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zzzzzzz....

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and lovely. My son finds new things in the pictures as we read it more and more, and I find the rhythm soothing.

[Jen Turrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the art work and the idea of this book. Great work Nikki!

[Henry Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

They won't even let me chew this one...