1, 2, 3 Salish Sea: A Pacific Northwest Counting Book

by Nikki McClure

Overview

This beautiful natural history counting book features artist Nikki McClure's stunning papercut artwork of flora and fauna found in and alongside the Salish Sea.

A celebration of the unique Salish Sea ecosystem, this counting book will inspire kids to learn more about the creatures who are found here, like stubby squids, lumpsuckers, banana slugs, orcas, nudibranchs, and sculpin. Each image is lovingly created by artist Nikki McClure in her intricate papercut style and captures her passion for this special place in the Pacific Northwest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632173362
Publisher:	Sasquatch Books
Publication date:	02/09/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	320,164
Product dimensions:	6.75(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

In 1996, NIKKI McCLURE made her first papercut for the book Apple. She has been creating papercut artwork ever since. She splits her time between making a yearly calendar and making children's books. In the summer, she sails north to explore islands, watch birds, hang out with moss, pick berries, and swim in the Salish Sea. McClure shows her artwork at Land Gallery in Portland every November. She lives in Olympia, Washington, with her husband and son under cedar trees along the eastern shore of the southern Salish Sea. She is also the author of The First 1000 Days, The Next 1000 Days, and Embrace.

Editorial Reviews

"Perceptively celebrates the Salish Sea and its natural elements, from one squid to 1,000,000 raindrops."—Kirkus Reviews

"This natural history counting book is not only a lovely little pre-naptime read for the kiddos, but is also a stunning book to display in the main cabin.—NW Yachting Magazine

"Each image is lovingly created by the artistry of Nikki McClure in an intricate papercut style and fully captures her passion for this special place in the Pacific Northwest."—Midwest Book Review

"1, 2, 3 Salish Sea is a delightful book sure to get children counting and contemplating all the incredible creatures that make their homes in the Pacific Northwest."—Hakai Magazine

"All in the stunning, high-contrasted style of Nikki McClure. I love the sparse use of color and deep black lines. So so beautiful."—Houston Library Finds

Nikki McClure's papercut art is extraordinary and striking, yet gentle and organic, and is a perfect fit for celebrating the natural wonders and exceptional beauty of the unique place she called home.—AveryandAugustine


"The papercut artwork is the real gem of this sweet counting book. Author/artist Nikki McClure’s intricate depictions of lumpsuckers and squids will delight parents and children, and inspire countless trips to the tidepools."—Seattle's Child

From the Publisher

2020-11-27
Counting from one to 1 million, McClure introduces children to the creatures and habitats of the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea.

The initial spreads, one through 10, interpolate well-known animals—five salmon, seven seals—with wonderfully unfamiliar ones. Each entry provides both the numeric symbol and the written word(s) for the number, along with a short phrase describing action, from “THREE Lumpsuckers hanging on” to “EIGHT Kelp crabs lunching in a forest.” McClure’s exquisite, intricate papercuts, accented with pastel watercolor washes, reveal anatomical details like scales, claws, and suckers and are particularly adept at capturing the flying and diving of birds. Later entries hopscotch from 20 clams, 50 surf scoters, and 100 sculpins to some really big groups: 500 dunlins, 1,000 “Years of a cedar tree sharing life,” 10,000 plankton, and “ONE MILLION Raindrops returning to the Salish Sea.” Beyond 100, McClure understandably abandons the faithfully exact depictions of quantities. For the old-growth cedar tree, her papercut interposes the tree in its natural setting with a crosscut slab, its pink-orange growth rings filling and spilling off the double spread. Embedded in McClure’s teeming compositions and airy text are an impressive knowledge and respect for the habitats fostered by the Salish Sea. However, readers will have to go elsewhere for information about the intriguing denizens and domains featured here.

Perceptively celebrates the Salish Sea and its natural elements, from one squid to 1,000,000 raindrops. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews