In

Starred review from January 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.

Starred review from April 1, 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

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Preschool-K McClure's latest follows a young boy and his tiny toy giraffe through a very busy day of play and imagination, beginning with the conviction that the only place worth being is in: inside, in pajamas, and even in a basket that doubles as a rocket ship that will only fly in inner space. But when he wants to go play in the rain, his adventures shift outside, making out the new in. The text finds simple joys in one's surroundings, and the consistent use of in versus out drives home this basic concept. Using only yellow, black, and white, McClure's cut-paper illustrations are filled with amazing detail. Readers will have fun spotting the yellow giraffe in every picture and following the boy from one activity to the next. After an exhausting day, the story concludes with the boy snug in his bed and his giraffe gazing out the window at the big, yellow moon, leaving readers with a cozy sense of wonder and possibility.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)