Kevin Henkes (1960-) Biography

Born 1960, in Racine, WI; Education: Attended University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Addresses

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Green-willow Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

Career

Writer and illustrator.

Honors Awards

Children's Choice Book selection, Children's Book Council/International Reading Association, 1986, both for A Weekend with Wendell; Library of Congress Best Books of the Year citation, 1988, for Once around the Block; notable book citation, American Library Association (ALA), 1988, and Keystone to Reading Award, Keystone State Reading Association, 1990, both for Chester's Way; best books of the year citation, School Library Journal, 1989, for Jessica; ALA notable book citation, 1990, for Julius, the Baby of the World; Library of Congress Best Books of the Year citation, School Library Journal best books of the year citation, and ALA notable book citation, all 1991, and Outstanding Achievement award, Wisconsin Library Association, 1992, all for Chrysanthemum; School Library Journal best books of the year citation, 1992, and Elizabeth Burr Award, Wisconsin Library Association, 1993, both for Words of Stone; School Library Journal best books of the year citation, and ALA notable children's book citation, both 1993, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award honor, Elizabeth Burr Award, Archer/Ekblad Children's Picture Book Award, Council for Wisconsin Writers, and Caldecott Honor Book designation, all 1994, all for Owen; Booklist "Top of the List" Picture Book Award, 1996, and American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Award, 1997, all for Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse; School Library Journal best books of the year citation, 1997, and ALA notable book citation, 1998, both for Sun and Spoon; Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1999, for Circle Dogs; ALA notable children's book citation, 2000, and children's choices and teachers choices awards, International Reading Association, and School Library Journal best children's books of the year citation, all 2001, all for Wemberley Worried; ALA notable children's book citation, 2001, for Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick; Jo Osborne Award for Humor in Children's Literature, 2002.

Writings

SELF-ILLUSTRATED

All Alone, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1981.

Clean Enough, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1982.

Kevin Henkes

Margaret and Taylor, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1983.

Bailey Goes Camping, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1985.

Grandpa and Bo, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1986.

Sheila Rae, the Brave, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1987.

A Weekend with Wendell, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1987.

Chester's Way, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1988.

Jessica, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1989.

Shhhh, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1989.

Julius, the Baby of the World, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1990.

Chrysanthemum, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1991.

Owen, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1993.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1996.

Wemberley Worried, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2000.

Kitten's First Full Moon, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2004.

NOVELS

(Self-illustrated) Return to Sender, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1984.

(Self-illustrated) Two under Par, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1987.

The Zebra Wall, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1988.

Words of Stone, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1992.

Protecting Marie, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1995.

Sun and Spoon, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1997.

The Birthday Room, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1999.

Olive's Ocean, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2003.

BOARD BOOKS; SELF-ILLUSTRATED

Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2002.

Owen's Marshmallow Chick, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2002.

Julius's Candy Corn, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2003.

Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2003.

Lilly's Chocolate Heart, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2004.

OTHER

Once around the Block, illustrated by Victoria Chess, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1987.

Good-bye, Curtis, illustrated by Marisabina Russo, Green-willow (New York, NY), 1995.

The Biggest Boy, illustrated by Nancy Tafuri, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1995.

Circle Dogs, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1998.

Oh!, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1999.

So Happy!, illustrated by Anita Lobel, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2005.

Author of introduction to Bonjour, Babar!: The Six Un-abridged Classics by the Creator of Babar, by Jean de Brunhoff.

Adaptations

A Weekend with Wendell was made into a filmstrip and a read-along audio cassette, both by Weston Woods, 1988; Recorded Books recorded audiocassettes of Words of Stone, 1993, Two under Par, 1997, and The Zebra Wall, 1997; Listening Library recorded an audiocassette of Sun and Spoon, 1998. Weston Woods has made videocassette adaptations of A Weekend with Wendell, Owen, and Chrysanthemum. Broderbund Software created a "Living Books" CD-ROM game based on Sheila Rae, the Brave.

Work in Progress

Dog and Twice as Far, both for Greenwillow.

Sidelights

The books of Kevin Henkes have been consistently praised for the funny and, above all, realistic way they portray children, particularly their relationships with parents and peers. Henkes is most famous for his picture books, many of which feature unforgettable mouse characters such as Lilly and Owen, but he has written several acclaimed novels as well. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books reviewer Betsy Hearne observed that Henkes's writing "sounds as if the author has been eavesdropping on children at play," while Chicago Tribune Books critic Mary Harris Veeder wrote that "Henkes's children are full of the imperfections and emotions which mark real life." As Martha Vaughan Parravano similarly noted in Children's Books and Their Creators: "Henkes is the creator of true picture books—in which text and illustrations work together to make a seamless whole—that exhibit an innate understanding of children and always contain a strong element of security and comfort."

Books played an important part in Henkes's childhood, spent in Wisconsin. His family regularly visited the local public library, and checking out his own books and carrying them home was an important event for Henkes. Illustrations often determined which books he would select, and the works of Crockett Johnson and Garth Williams were particular favorites. Admitting to a childhood desire to be an artist when he grew up, the illustrator told Ilene Cooper of Booklist: "My parents and my sisters encouraged me in that. There was an art museum near my house, and we used to make excursions there." As a high schooler, Henkes was encouraged by a teacher to develop his writing skills as well, thus inspiring his future career. "I knew I liked to write, draw and paint," he said in a Publishers Weekly interview with Nathalie Op de Beeck, "and I wanted to find an art form to combine those things—that's when I rediscovered picture books." "I wondered about authors and illustrators when I was growing up," Henkes wrote on his Web site. He continued, "I never imagined that one day I would be one myself."

Henkes attended the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in art. Between his first two years of college, he decided to travel to New York City to find a publisher who might be interested in his work. While breaking into publishing is usually very difficult, the idealistic student was undaunted. "I picked the week I would go to New York, made a list of my ten favorite publishers, and set up appointments," he told Op de Beeck. "I went thinking, 'I'll come back with a book contract.'" Henkes did his homework and included among his interviews one with an editor whom he had heard lecture on tape. "Magically enough," Henkes wrote on his Web site, "Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow Books made my dream come true." When he returned to school, the nineteen year old had a contract for his first book in hand. In 1981, he published his first picture book, All Alone, which he had first drafted while in high school.

Both All Alone and its follow-up, Clean Enough, are gentle stories relating ordinary, everyday children's activities of children. While critics did not find the text exceptionally distinguished, they have praised Henkes's artwork. Of All Alone, in which a little boy uses his imagination while outside, a Publishers Weekly reviewer stated that "muted colors [and] delicate lines reflect the sensitivity in the text." A Kirkus Reviews writer likewise observed that "Henkes paints with a delicate palette … and the illustrations have a degree of feeling." Bathtime is the focus of Clean Enough, as a little boy considers how to get the water just the right temperature and remembers previous adventures in the tub. School Library Journal contributor Joan W. Blos found this work "highly successful" and praised the text's "nuances of humor" as well as Henkes's "affectionate drawings."

After publishing Margaret and Taylor, which relates the travails of a boy who tries to overcome the nasty tricks of his older sister, and Return to Sender, in which a postal worker responds to a boy's letter to a superhero, Henkes tried his hand at his first animal characters. In Bailey Goes Camping, young rabbit Bailey is disappointed at being left behind while his older siblings go on a Bunny Scouts camping trip. His understanding mother, however, finds ways for him to enjoy camping activities while at home. The story "truly captures the world of the small child," Anne Devereaux Jordan Crouse remarked in Children's Book Review Service, adding praise for the book's "wit and warmth." With its gentle pastels and simple text, Bailey Goes Camping is "a cozy, comfortable book that will leave youngsters smiling," Denise M. Wilms wrote in Booklist. A loving spirit also infuses Grandpa and Bo, about a shared summer between a boy and his grandfather. The book "is a welcome addition to [Henkes's] growing list of accomplishments," a Kirkus Reviews critic stated, explaining that the artist's "soft pencil drawings accurately convey the story's mood of quiet simplicity."

Many of Henkes's most popular books feature a group of young mice whose adventures and concerns mirror those of children worldwide. "I found I could get much more humor out of animals, and besides it freed me from having to sketch from a human model," the artist revealed to Cooper. "I tried rabbits for a while, but I found mice to be the most fun. Now, I've really grown attached to some of my mouse characters, so I'd like to explore their lives a little bit more." The first of these mouse works is the Children's Choice Book A Weekend with Wendell. Wendell's parents have gone out of town, leaving Wendell to stay with Sophie's family for the weekend. Wendell, however, is a difficult house guest, in spite of Sophie's attempts to be a good host. When the two play house, for example, Wendell is the father, mother, and children, leaving Sophie to be the dog; when they play hospital, Wendell makes himself the doctor, the patient, and the nurse, making Sophie the desk clerk; and while playing bakery, Wendell is the baker—Sophie is a sweet roll. In the end she can bear it no longer; Wendell gets his comeuppance, and the two mice ultimately become close friends. The story is "divertingly recounted by Henkes with good humor and charm," a Publishers Weekly critic stated, adding that "the postures of his mice children speak volumes."

In Sheila Rae, the Brave, boastful elder sister Sheila Rae impresses her meek younger sister Louise with her ability to combat dogs, bullies, and monsters in the closet. When Sheila Rae's imagination gets the best of her while taking a new route home from school, however, it is Louise who comes to the rescue. "Everything that happens here is completely credible," a Publishers Weekly writer commented, "hence appealing to kids' intuitions." School Library Journal contributor David Gale likewise asserted that children would enjoy the book's humor and realism, and also praised Henkes's "bouncy watercolors" and "highly expressive faces."

Chester's Way introduces one of the author's most popular characters, the imaginative and impish Lilly. When Lilly moves into the neighborhood, best friends Chester and Wilson both have some adjusting to do before the trio become good friends. "Henkes's vision of friendship captures the essence of the childlike," a Publishers Weekly critic noted, adding that "every sentence is either downright funny or dense with playful, deadpan humor." In this "amusing, believable story" with its "delightful little mice," Ann A. Flowers wrote in Horn Book that the author-illustrator once again demonstrates "his strong empathy with the feelings of children."

To the delight of his fans, Henkes has continued to explore the world of his young mouse characters in several critically acclaimed picture books. Julius, the Baby of the World again features spunky young Lilly, who is now about to become a sister—much to her displeasure. Before the baby is born, Lilly is sure she will be a wonderful big sister as she watches her parents buy toys for the new arrival and talk to it through her mother's swollen belly. When little Julius is born, however, Lilly is disgusted by the attention he commands—attention that was, until recently, reserved for Lilly alone. She wishes Julius away. She pinches his tender flesh. She recites to him a mixed-up alphabet, to undo the lessons of her parents. However, when a visiting cousin voices her disapproval, big sister comes to Julius's defense. "There is much to admire, giggle over and learn from Julius, the Baby of the World," Ann Pleshette Murphy wrote in the New York Times Book Review. "No matter how vitriolic a big sister may become, she really does love her little brother after all."

Other everyday concerns are explored in books such as Chrysanthemum, in which a girl discovers that being different can mean being special, and Owen, which earned Henkes a Caldecott Honor citation. Owen is about to start school, and so his nosy neighbor Mrs. Tweezers suggests to his parents that he needs to give up his cherished blanket, Fuzzy. The resourceful Owen thwarts every trick his parents use to make him give up Fuzzy, until his mother finds the perfect solution: turn Fuzzy into a series of handkerchiefs small enough to fit in his pocket. "Owen is a great addition to Kevin Henkes's many endearing characters," Hanna B. Zeiger wrote in Horn Book, while Hazel Rochman explained in Booklist that the author/illustrator can convey emotion "with a few simple lines."

While Owen earned its creator his first major award citations, his next picture book has proven to be one of his most popular. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse features the return of the spunky little girl mouse, now in school. Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger. When her excitement over sharing her musical purse with him leads to a reprimand, however, Lilly's ardent devotion turns into anger. In portraying Lilly's journey from remorse to reconciliation, Henkes "once again demonstrates his direct line to the roller-coaster emotions of small children," a Kirkus Reviews writer stated. Reviewers highlighted the artist's use of humor as well as his ability to express feelings in his drawings; School Library Journal contributor Marianne Saccardi observed that "with a few deft strokes, Henkes changes Lilly's facial expressions and body language to reveal a full range of emotions." Ilene Cooper in Booklist likewise hailed the author's ability to portray Lilly's mixed emotions, and commented: "That Henkes is able to bring this perplexity—and its sometimes sweet solutions—to a child's level is his gift." The result of this gift, wrote M. P. Dunleavey in the New York Times Book Review, is "a book so delightful, so exuberant, honest and evocative of the passionate life that children live as we look on, that one considers nailing a proclamation to the door of the local bookseller or wearing a copy around one's neck to advertise it."

In 2000, another mouse hit the bookshelves; worrywart Wemberly is introduced in Henkes's Wemberly Worried. Wemberly, a white mouse with a dark spot around her left eye, worries about everything. When she has to face going to school, her worries become even bigger than normal. Luckily for Wemberly and her constant companion, a small rabbit doll, another girl mouse, Jewel, who also carries a doll, is just as nervous about the first day of school. As the two begin to become friends, Wemberly finds she has just a little bit less to worry about. "Henkes adroitly juggles the main narrative, hand-lettered asides and watercolor-and-ink imagery," wrote a critic in Publishers Weekly. Joy Fleishhacker, in a review for School Library Journal, considered the story to be related "with sensitivity and filled with perfectly chosen details." Ilene Cooper, writing for Booklist called Wemberly a "winsome worry-wart," and a Horn Book reviewer noted that "Henkes's picture books make finding your way in the world a little less daunting."

Lilly, Owen, Wemberly, and the other mice appear in their own series of board books for very young readers. In each title, the young mouse has some sort of candy treat and must decide how, and, in some cases, whether or not to eat it. Lilly searches for a place to hide her last piece of Valentine's candy in Lilly's Chocolate Heart, while Wemberly waits too long to eat her ice cream and ends up with ice cream soup in Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star, which Melinda Piehler in School Library Journal considered "another winning story." Julius is not allowed to eat Halloween cupcakes, but instead counts the candy corn decorating them in Julius's Candy Corn, which was called "a gem of a story" by Olga R. Kuharets in a review for School Library Journal. Sheila Rae convinces her sister Louise to do the impossible before sharing her candy in Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick. A Horn Book reviewer wrote that "Henkes's expressive illustrations work perfectly with the short-and-sweet text," and Kathy Broderick in Booklist called Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick "a beautifully told story." And in "a sweet friendship story" according to Ann Cook in School Library Journal, Owen becomes attached to one of his Easter candies in Owen's Marshmallow Chick. Commenting on the series, a critic for Kirkus Reviews proclaimed, "Henkes has mastered the art of transferring his mouse children to the simplicity required for a board book."

Although he has earned critical and popular acclaim for his picture books featuring mice, Henkes has also diverted from that successful formula. In Jessica he tells the story of Ruthie and the imaginary playmate who "becomes real" when Ruthie meets a similarly named new student at school. "Not one extraneous element in text or pictures mars the lyrical, joyous tone," Mary M. Burns declared in Horn Book, while Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books writer Roger Sutton hailed the book's "witty use of white space and … imaginative variety of type and line placement." In his first venture outside of watercolors, Henkes used broad-stroked acrylic paintings in Shhhh, a gentle portrayal of a child awake in the quiet early morning. The artwork was deemed perfect in conveying "the hushed world of a child's first waking moments" by a Publishers Weekly critic.

Henkes experiments with black-and-white illustrations in Kitten's First Full Moon, the story of a kitten who thinks the moon is a big bowl of milk in the sky. Kitten tries and tries to capture the big bowl of milk for herself, but after a night of failure returns home to find her own small bowl of milk waiting for her. Gillian Engberg, writing in Booklist, noted that Henkes "creates a loveable, expressive character in the determined kitten." A critic for Kirkus Reviews, noting that Henkes's illustrations give the book a "retro look" called the title "simply charming." According to a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, the "determined" kitten and her "comical quest will win over" young readers. Christine M. Heppermann in Horn Book called Kitten's First Full Moon a "sweet story," and School Library Journal contributor Wendy Lukehart considered the book "an irresistible offering from the multifaceted Henkes."

During the 1980s, Henkes introduced the first of his novels to address issues that confront children everywhere. Two under Par is the story of a boy named Wedge, who tries to adapt to his new stepfather and stepbrother. When his mother becomes pregnant, Wedge feels more isolated than ever. A Publishers Weekly reviewer applauded Two under Par, noting in particular the "complicated process of learning acceptance and being accepted" which the author "explores with confidence and care." "Henkes's handling of Wedge's problems is masterful and shows a keen understanding of childhood," Robert Unsworth similarly remarked in School Library Journal. A new baby also arrives in The Zebra Wall, prompting a visit by the eccentric and slightly annoying Aunt Irene. Adine, the young girl who must share her room with Aunt Irene during her stay, is none too pleased—about either new arrival. "This is not [just] another new baby story," claimed a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, adding that "Henkes knows that every worry in a child's life has many layers." Elizabeth S. Watson likewise concluded in Horn Book that The Zebra Wall "embodies genuine understanding of a ten-year-old's fears," making for a "beguiling story peopled with true characters."

The novel Sun and Spoon "offers another meticulously crafted, quietly engaging epiphany," according to a Kirkus Reviews writer. Ten-year-old Spoon is having difficulty adjusting to his first summer without his beloved grandmother, especially since his grandfather finds it too painful to continue their once-frequent card games. Fearing he will lose his precious memories of his grandmother, Spoon takes her favorite deck of cards as a memento, triggering a family crisis. The resolution provides Spoon with new insights about himself and his family, and the book as a whole "glitters with small, memorable moments that seem true to life, yet fresh and unexpected," Elizabeth Spires remarked in the New York Times Book Review. School Library Journal contributor Marilyn Payne Phillips praised how the author "captures young angst with respect and honesty," while a Publishers Weekly reviewer hailed the use of "both sensitively planted metaphors and realistic experiences to explore different phases of the healing process." Comparing Sun and Spoon with Henkes's books for younger children, a Kirkus Reviews critic observed, "it is infused with the same good humor, wisdom, and respect for children's hearts and minds that characterize all his works."

Ben is given his own studio for painting in The Birthday Room. Instead of feeling grateful for his parents' support, however, Ben finds that being given a room in the house makes him feel pressured to succeed with his art work. His second gift, however, is a much-requested plane ticket to go see his uncle Ian, also an artist. Ben's mother, who accompanies her son, still holds her brother Ian responsible for an accident in which Ben lost a finger years before; though Ben's mother doesn't get along with her brother, she immediately becomes friends with her brother's wife, who is pregnant. Meanwhile, with the help of the neighboring children, Ben begins to learn more about his family, and comes up with a solution to the problem of the "birthday room." "Henkes creates a world that appeals to the five senses even when he is using words as his paintbrush," praised Jennifer M. Brown in Publishers Weekly. In Horn Book a critic dubbed The Birthday Room "a story that helps us see our own chances for benefitting from mutual tolerance, creative conflict resolution, and other forms of good will," while a Publishers Weekly contributor wrote that the book "explores family relationships with breathtaking tenderness."

Olive's Ocean introduces readers to Martha, a twelve-year-old girl whose classmate, Olive, died in a car accident. Though they hardly knew each other, Olive had written in her diary that the next year in school, she hoped to become Martha's friend, because Martha was "the nicest person in my whole entire class." Olive's mother gives Martha an extract from Olive's diary, and Martha begins to feel closer to the deceased girl, discovering that Olive had hoped to become an author and that she had always wanted to see the ocean. Martha's summer visit to her grandmother's house on the shoreline becomes a visit for Olive as well, when Martha finds a way to take Olive to the ocean with her. Noting that Olive's Ocean contains "all the elements of a traditional summer novel"—including Martha's summer crush, which goes badly—Sarah Ellis noted in Horn Book that, "In other hands this might be too much material, but Henkes has a jeweler's touch, strong and delicate." The novel "isn't big and splashy," Booklist reviewer Michael Cart commented, adding that "its quiet art and intelligence will stick with readers." Maria B. Salvadore wrote in School Library Journal that, "Though Martha remains the focus, others around her become equally realized, including Olive." As a critic for Kirkus Reviews commented, "Characters and setting are painted in with the deft strokes of an experienced artist," while Claire Rosser proclaimed in Kliatt that the novel's protagonist "is one of the most memorable 12-year-old girls of fiction, smart, confused, compassionate."

At no loss for story ideas, Henkes has authored several picture books illustrated by other artists. In the first such collaboration, Once around the Block, Henkes and illustrator Victoria Chess portray a little girl who turns the boredom of waiting for her father into a fun journey around the neighborhood. The conclusion—in which the girl comes home to find her bored father waiting for her return—is "a masterstroke of child appeal on the part of the author," Betsy Hearne observed in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. "As in his other books," a Kirkus Reviews writer remarked, "Henkes creates a comfortable story with understated, believable characters and events." The Biggest Boy, illustrated by Nancy Tafuri, similarly shows the author's sensitivity towards children's concerns by showing how a little boy imagines himself to be big and powerful. New York Times Book Review contributor Meg Wolitzer praised how in Henkes's text, "the parents encourage the child's fantasies of power and separation and take great pleasure in his responses," thus "liberating" the fears of the child. Oh!, illustrated by Henkes's wife Laura Dronzek, introduces an even younger set of readers to Henkes's work. In the story, everyone from squirrels to rabbits to children encounter the first snow of the season. "Henkes keeps his prose succinct and unadorned," noted a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, while Booklist contributor Ilene Cooper added: "As soft as snow, this book's simple, playful premise will make readers sigh, 'Oh!'"

Henkes takes his time with his work. "I write very, very slowly," he explained to Ilene Cooper in an interview for Booklist. "Sometimes it will take me a week to write a paragraph. Then I'll go over it for a couple of days. I'll take things out and put things back in. I do very few drafts; I usually write one draft exceedingly slowly." Also, by varying his projects from children's books for the very young to picture books to novels, Henkes prevents his writing from becoming routine. Sharing his enjoyment of art and writing with his readers remains one of his most important goals, as he wrote in Children's Books and Their Creators: "I hope that there is something about my books that connects with children, and something that connects with the adult readers. Even if something traumatic happens to one of my characters, I like to have my stories end on a hopeful note. That's my gift to the reader."