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Kevin Henkes

ケビン・ヘンクス

Kevin Henkes

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-11-27 （Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. (birthplace) → Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. (residence)

Career

Occupations
Illustrator, Author (children's literature)
Active Years
1981-

Education

University of Wisconsin–Madison
Country: United States
Wrote his first book while a freshman at university.

Awards

Caldecott Medal
2005
Work: Kitten's First Full Moon
Category: イラストレーション（絵本）
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Winner
Newbery Medal (Honor)
2004
Work: Olive's Ocean
Category: 児童向け長編/中級向け
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Newbery Medal (Honor)
2014
Work: The Year of Billy Miller
Category: 児童向け長編/中級向け
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Caldecott Honor
2016
Work: Waiting
Category: 絵本
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Geisel Honor
2016
Work: Waiting
Category: 初期読書（初級リーダー）
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honor
Children's Literature Legacy Award
2020
Work: Body of work
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Winner
Phoenix Picture Book Award
2013
Work: Owen
Organization: Children's Literature Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Chrysanthemum

1991 Picture book

A picture book about a girl who feels embarrassed by her name and learns about self-acceptance and friendship.

self-acceptanceteasingfriendship

Kitten's First Full Moon

2004 Picture book 32 pages

A charming black-and-white picture book about a kitten who mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk. Award-winning.

curiosityadventurehumor

Olive's Ocean

2003 Middle-grade fiction

A middle-grade novel about a girl's coming-of-age, grief, and growth. Newbery Honor recipient.

losscoming-of-agefriendship

The Year of Billy Miller

2013 Middle-grade fiction

A gentle, insightful story following Billy's year in elementary school and at home. Newbery Honor recipient.

children's everyday lifefamilygrowing up

Waiting

2015 Picture book

A poetic picture book that explores the quiet joys and imagination of waiting. Received Caldecott and Geisel Honors.

patienceimaginationbeauty of everyday life

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

1996 Picture book

A humorous picture book about a child's emotional ups and downs over a prized purple plastic purse.

emotiongrowing uphumor

Owen

1993 Picture book (Mouse series)

A picture book about a little mouse who doesn't want to give up his favorite blanket. Phoenix Award and Caldecott Honor recipient.

comfortlosshome

Bibliography

  • All Alone (1981)
  • Chrysanthemum (1991)
  • Kitten's First Full Moon (2004)
  • Olive's Ocean (2003)
  • The Year of Billy Miller (2013)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, warm prosemix of humor and poetic imageryvoice that closely inhabits a child's perspective
Recurring Motifs
solitude and quietfamily and everyday observationchildhood developmentanthropomorphized animals (notably mice)

Legacy

Kevin Henkes is a highly regarded author-illustrator known for warm, insightful children's books. With numerous picture books and middle-grade novels, and awards including the Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honors, and the Children's Literature Legacy Award, he has had a lasting impact on American children's literature.

Trivia

  • Most of his books have been published by Greenwillow Books (primary publisher).
  • He has collaborated with his wife Laura Dronzek on seasonal picture books (Henkes writes, Dronzek paints).
  • Well known for picture books featuring mice as main characters.
  • Won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon; Waiting earned both a Caldecott Honor and a Geisel Honor—a rare combination.