In

by Nikki McClure

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419714863
Publisher:	Abrams Appleseed
Publication date:	03/03/2015
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Nikki McClure is the author and illustrator of Collect Raindrops; Mama, Is It Summer Yet?; To Market, To Market; Apple; and How to Be a Cat, and the illustrator of All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant and May the Stars Drip Down by Jeremy Chatelain. She lives in Olympia, Washington. Visit her online at nikkimcclure.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/19/2015
It’s hard to imagine how McClure’s creations could get any better, yet her cut-paper compositions continue to grow more inventive and fluid. A boy in pajamas sits on the floor with his yellow toy giraffe, playing with blocks. “I only want to stay in.... Inside. In. In. In.” His unseen caretaker gives him all the time he needs. He builds, reads (even on the toilet), and eats marmalade on hot popovers. A wicker laundry basket figures prominently in his play; when he burrows down into it, the contrast between the softness of his hair and the basket’s stiff weave is a small miracle. Eventually, the boy has had enough. Now he dashes “Outside. Outdoors. Out. Out. Out,” where he hangs from dark branches and hunts for owls, finding—with the aid of a flashlight—a treeful of them, which McClure presents in a show-stopping gatefold spread. Intimacy, a love of the natural world, and veneration for the needs and perceptions of childhood ground this affectionate portrait of the richness and value of unrestricted, unprogrammed play. Ages 2–5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"The text finds simple joys in one’s surroundings, and the consistent use of in versus out drives home this basic concept...McClure’s cut-paper illustrations are filled with amazing detail."

Booklist - Julia Smith

★ 04/01/2015
Toddler to K—A pensive boy declares, "I only want to stay in./In my pajamas./Inside./In. In. In." He is content to play with his small toy giraffe and his big imagination. A wicker laundry basket has the possibilities to become a rocket ship to "innerspace," a hot-air balloon, or a simple reading space. He explores all the ways he can be in, like milk in tea and reading books in laps. Soon in leads to out via playing in the rain to the joy of outdoor exploration: "Now I only want to/stay out./Outside. Outdoors./Out. Out. Out." Among the trees he waits to see owls. The day comes to a close, and it's time again to be in, now in a nice warm bed. Junior ornithologists are rewarded at the book's end with an illustrated map of the owls featured within; it identifies 35 varieties. The distinct illustrations are constructed with black cut paper against white and yellow, creating a clean and appealing result. VERDICT The coziness and intimacy of childhood will reverberate with children and adults alike.—Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

School Library Journal