Kevin Henkes (born November 27, 1960) is an American writer and illustrator of

children's books A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younge ...

. As an illustrator he won the

Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Servic ...

for ''

Kitten's First Full Moon ''Kitten's First Full Moon'' is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. Published in 2004, the book tells the story of a kitten who thinks the moon is a bowl of milk and tries many different attempts to drink it. Henke ...

'' (2004). Two of his books were

Newbery Medal The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished cont ...

Honor Books, ''

Olive's Ocean The novel ''Olive's Ocean'' was written by Kevin Henkes and was originally published in 2001. It won the 2004 Newbery Honor. The story's idea was taken from Kevin Henkes' question, "What was it like for authors growing up?" ''Olive's Ocean'' ...

'' in 2004 and '' The Year of Billy Miller'' in 2014. His picture book ''

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'' was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.

Career

Kevin Henkes (pronounced HANK-us) thought he would be an artist until his junior year of high school when one of his teachers encouraged him in his writing efforts. He discovered that children's books combined both his literary and artistic interests. Henkes writes and illustrates children's

picture books A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...

, many of which feature mice as their main characters. He also writes middle-grade fiction. Henkes wrote his first book during his freshman year in college. The book's theme deals with how a child describes the pleasures of occasional solitude. This theme is common in many of Henkes' later books. Henkes, one of five children, says that many of his storylines are inspired by his family and the neighborhood where he grew up in Racine, Wisconsin. Henkes has written and illustrated around fifty critically acclaimed and award-winning picture books, early readers, and novels in his career thus far. Henkes' first book, ''All Alone'', was published in 1981 by

Greenwillow Books HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Corp ...

. More than 50 books followed, including '' Chrysanthemum'' and ''Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse''. In 1994 Henkes was a runner-up for one of the premier

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

(ALA) children's book awards, the

for ''Owen'', one of his mouse books. In 2004, he was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal for ''

.'' The next year he won the Caldecott Medal for ''Kitten's First Full Moon'', recognizing that as the year's best children's picture book published in the U.S. All of his books to date have been published by Greenwillow Books. Henkes won the inaugural Phoenix Picture Book Award in 2013 for ''Owen''. The Phoenix Awards from the

Children's Literature Association The Children's Literature Association (ChLA) is a non-profit association, based in the United States, of scholars, critics, professors, students, librarians, teachers, and institutions dedicated to studying children's literature.Margaret W. Denman- ...

recognize the best books that did not win major awards when they were first published twenty years earlier. In 2014, he received a Newbery Honor for his book, ''The Year of Billy Miller''. In 2020 Henkes was awarded the ALA's Children's Literature Legacy Award, celebrating his entire body of work. Henkes and his wife, Laura Dronzek, have been collaborating on a series of picture books based on the four seasons. Henkes writes the story, while Dronzek provides the acrylic painting illustrations. The next title expected is ''Winter is Here.''

Early and personal life

Henkes was born in Racine, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the

University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

. He lives in

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

with his wife, artist Laura Dronzek, and their two children. New Caldecott honor a historic win for Madison author Kevin Henkes, by Gayle Worland
/ref>

Works

Novels

*''Return to Sender'' (1984) *''Two Under Par'' (1987) *''The Zebra Wall'' (1988) – Council of Wisconsin Writers Children's Book Award *''Words of Stone'' (1992) *''Protecting Marie'' (1995) *''Sun & Spoon'' (1997) *''The Birthday Room'' (1999) *''

'' (2004) – Newbery Honor Book *''Bird Lake Moon'' (2008) *''Junonia'' (2011) *'' The Year of Billy Miller'' (2013) – Newbery Honor Book *''Sweeping up the Heart'' (2018) *''Billy Miller Makes a Wish'' (2020)

Picture books

*''All Alone'' (1981) *''Clean Enough'' (1982) *''Margaret & Taylor'' (1983) *''Bailey Goes Camping'' (1985) *''Grandpa & Bo'' (1986) – Council of Wisconsin Writers Children’s Book Award *''Once Around the Block'' (1987) –

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

Best Books of the Year *''Jessica'' (1989) *''Shhhh'' (1989) *''The Biggest Boy'' (1995), illustrated by Nancy Tafuri *''Good-bye, Curtis'' (1995), illustrated by Marisabina Russo *'' Circle Dogs'' (1998), illustrated by Dan Yaccarino – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''Oh!'' (2000) *''

'' (2004) –

, Charlotte Zolotow Award, Council of Wisconsin Writers Archer-Eckblad Children’s Picture Book Honorable Mention *''A Good Day'' (2007) – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''Birds'' (2009), illustrated by Laura Dronzek – Charlotte Zolotow Honor *''Old Bear'' (2009) – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''My Garden'' (2010) – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''Little White Rabbit'' (2011) *''

'' (2015) – Caldecott Honor, Geisel Honor *''When Spring Comes'' (2016), illustrated by Laura Dronzek *''Egg'' (2017) *''In the Middle of Fall'' (2017), illustrated by Laura Dronzek *''A Parade of Elephants'' (2018) *''Winter Is Here'' (2018), illustrated by Laura Dronzek *''Summer Song'' (2020), illustrated by Laura Dronzek *''Sun Flower Lion'' (2020) *''

A House A House were an Irish rock band that was active in Dublin from the 1985 to 1997, and recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of frontman Dave Couse ... bolstered by the and'sseemingly effortless musicality". The single " ...

'' (2021) *''Little Houses'' (2022), illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Mouse books

*''A Weekend with Wendell'' (1986) – Children's Choices 1987 *'' Sheila Rae, the Brave'' (1987) *''Chester's Way'' (1988) – ALA Notable Children's Books 1988 *''Julius, the Baby of the World'' (1990) – ALA Notable Children's Books 1990, Booklist Editors Choice 1990 *'' Chrysanthemum'' (1991) – Council of Wisconsin Writers Betty Ren Wright Children’s Picture Book Award *''Owen'' (1993) – Caldecott Honor, Council of Wisconsin Writers Archer-Eckblad Children’s Picture Book Award, Phoenix Picture Book Award 2013 *''Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse'' (1996) *''Wemberly Worried'' (2000) – ALA Notable Children's Book 2000, ''

Parenting Magazine ''Parenting'' was a magazine for families and it was published in United States between 1987 and 2013. Its final headquarters was in Winter Park, Florida. History and profile ''Parenting'' was launched in 1987 by Robin Wolaner in a joint venture ...

'' Reading Magic Award 2000, ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' Best Children's Books 2001, ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...

'' Best Children's Books 2001 *''Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick'' (2001), a board book *''Owen's Marshmallow Chick'' (2002), a board book – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''Wemberley's Ice Cream Star'' (2003), a board book *''Julius' Candy Corn'' (2003), a board book *''Lilly's Chocolate Heart'' (2003), a board book *''Lilly's Big Day'' (2006) – Charlotte Zolotow Commendation *''Penny and Her Song'' (2012) *''Penny and Her Doll'' (2012) *''Penny and Her Marble'' (2013) – Geisel Honor *''Penny and Her Sled'' (2019)

Notes

References

External links

*
Caldecott Medal

Kevin Henkes Audio Name Pronunciation
at TeachingBooks.net * {{DEFAULTSORT:Henkes, Kevin 1960 births American children's writers Caldecott Medal winners American children's book illustrators Newbery Honor winners Writers from Madison, Wisconsin Writers from Racine, Wisconsin Writers from Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Living people 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American male novelists 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers Novelists from Wisconsin