1. Kevin Henkes
Yesmean Aysheh
LAE3414

2. Background History
Kevin Henkes is an American author and illustrator. He has been writing and illustrating children’s books for over thirty years.
He was born in Wisconsin, and during his childhood, he often visited the local art museums. Henkes was greatly inspired by these visits.
However, it was a high school teacher’s encouragement of his writing that gave Henkes the idea for his future career.

3. Style and Craft
When creating his stories, the words always come first. His books begin with a character; “character is the seed from which a book grows.”
His writing is filtered through his eyes, meaning that his writing is inspired by his own experiences.
There is no set theme in his writing. He wants his characters to be believable and the story to be convincing.

4. Famous for his Mice Books
As his books became more humorous, Hankes thought that he can match his text by drawing animals as the main characters.
He made many sketches of different animals, but he liked the mouse sketch the best.
He used mice as the protagonists in many of his picture books. He did not plan this, it just happened.
Chester
Shelia Rae
Owen
Wemberly
Chrysanthemum

5. Illustrations
It may take Hankes months, and even years, drawing out all of his illustrations for one book.
He completes each illustration in stages:
-First, he does sketches for the entire book.
-Next, he’ll do a finished pencil drawing for each illustration.
-Then he traces each picture with black ink.
-Lastly, he makes several copies so that he can test different colors.

6. Awards and Honors
Henkes was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his book Kitten’s First Moon and the Caldecott Honor Medal for Owen.
He has won the Newbery Honor Award for two of his books, Olive’s Ocean and The Year of Billy Miller.
Overall, he has earned a variety of different awards for 17 of his picture books.

7. Website: http://www.kevinhenkes.com/
On his website, you can find a short biography on Kevin Henkes, videos of him in his studio, information on all of his books which includes his picture books, mouse books, and novels, and there are activities for children that teachers can use which corresponds with his books.

8. Activities For Students: For Teachers: Pictures to Color
Matching Worksheets
Cooking Activities with Recipes
Cut and Paste Activities
Discussion Questions
Printable Stickers
Mouse Mazes
Word Search Puzzles
Mouse Stick Puppets
There are teaching and discussion guides
Reading Group Guides
Extension Activities
Before, During, and After Questions