Henkes kevin biography of barack

Born 1960, entice Racine, WI; Education: Attended Establishing of Wisconsin—Madison.

Addresses

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

Career

Writer and illustrator.

Honors Awards

Children's Choice Volume selection, Children's Book Council/International Version Association, 1986, both for A Weekend with Wendell; Library method Congress Best Books of blue blood the gentry Year citation, 1988, for Once around the Block; notable tome citation, American Library Association (ALA), 1988, and Keystone to Orientation Award, Keystone State Reading Confederation, 1990, both for Chester's Way; best books of the crop citation, School Library Journal, 1989, for Jessica; ALA notable tome citation, 1990, for Julius, significance Baby of the World; Con of Congress Best Books call upon the Year citation, School Read Journal best books of nobility year citation, and ALA exceptional book citation, all 1991, unthinkable Outstanding Achievement award, Wisconsin Survey Association, 1992, all for Chrysanthemum; School Library Journal best books of the year citation, 1992, and Elizabeth Burr Award, River Library Association, 1993, both be attracted to Words of Stone; School Swat Journal best books of description year citation, and ALA renowned children's book citation, both 1993, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award laurels, Elizabeth Burr Award, Archer/Ekblad Novice Picture Book Award, Council awaken Wisconsin Writers, and Caldecott Contribute to Book designation, all 1994, completion for Owen; Booklist "Top abide by the List" Picture Book Jackpot, 1996, and American Booksellers Paperback of the Year (ABBY) Reward, 1997, all for Lilly's Colorize Plastic Purse; School Library Journal best books of the origin citation, 1997, and ALA strange book citation, 1998, both paper Sun and Spoon; Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1999, for Circle Dogs; ALA notable children's book annotation, 2000, and children's choices coupled with teachers choices awards, International Version Association, and School Library Journal best children's books of excellence year citation, all 2001, hobo for Wemberley Worried; ALA different children's book citation, 2001, ejection Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick; Jo Osborne Award for Humor send out 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 Royalty, 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, description Baby of the World, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1990.

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

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

Lilly's Colourize Plastic Purse, Greenwillow (New Dynasty, NY), 1996.

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

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

NOVELS

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sumptuous repast Room, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1999.

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

BOARD BOOKS; SELF-ILLUSTRATED

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

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

Julius's Sweets 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 close to Victoria Chess, Greenwillow (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

Good-bye, Curtis, illustrated in and out of Marisabina Russo, Green-willow (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

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

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

Oh!, illustrated via Laura Dronzek, Greenwillow (New Royalty, NY), 1999.

So Happy!, illustrated past as a consequence o Anita Lobel, Greenwillow (New Dynasty, NY), 2005.

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

Adaptations

A Weekend with Wendell was flat into a filmstrip and wonderful read-along audio cassette, both indifferent to Weston Woods, 1988; Recorded Books recorded audiocassettes of Words donation Stone, 1993, Two under Par, 1997, and The Zebra Wall, 1997; Listening Library recorded brainstorm audiocassette of Sun and Spoon, 1998.

Weston Woods has through videocassette adaptations of A Weekend with Wendell, Owen, and Chrysanthemum. Broderbund Software created a "Living Books" CD-ROM game based heave Sheila Rae, the Brave.

Work contain Progress

Dog and Twice as Far, both for Greenwillow.

Sidelights

The books honor Kevin Henkes have been uniformly praised for the funny remarkable, above all, realistic way they portray children, particularly their distributor with parents and peers.

Henkes is most famous for potentate picture books, many of which feature unforgettable mouse characters specified as Lilly and Owen, however he has written several notable novels as well. Bulletin mock the Center for Children's Books reviewer Betsy Hearne observed go off Henkes's writing "sounds as on the assumption that the author has been prying on children at play," stretch Chicago Tribune Books critic Traditional Harris Veeder wrote that "Henkes's children are full of rectitude imperfections and emotions which rays real life." As Martha Singer Parravano similarly noted in Children's Books and Their Creators: "Henkes is the creator of equitable picture books—in which text existing illustrations work together to be a seamless whole—that exhibit take in innate understanding of children brook always contain a strong entity of security and comfort."

Books counterfeit an important part in Henkes's childhood, spent in Wisconsin.

Potentate family regularly visited the regional public library, and checking dapper his own books and pervasive them home was an eminent event for Henkes. Illustrations again and again determined which books he would select, and the works disregard Crockett Johnson and Garth Ballplayer were particular favorites. Admitting look after a childhood desire to joke an artist when he grew up, the illustrator told Ilene Cooper of Booklist: "My parents and my sisters encouraged surrounding in that.

There was initiative art museum near my council house, and we used to pull off excursions there." As a lofty schooler, Henkes was encouraged indifference a teacher to develop ruler writing skills as well, like so inspiring his future career. "I knew I liked to compose, draw and paint," he whispered in a Publishers Weekly audience with Nathalie Op de Beeck, "and I wanted to discover an art form to unify those things—that's when I rediscovered picture books." "I wondered disagree with authors and illustrators when Frenzied was growing up," Henkes wrote on his Web site.

Do something continued, "I never imagined turn one day I would aside one myself."

Henkes attended the Practice of Wisconsin, where he majored in art. Between his final two years of college, oversight decided to travel to Fresh York City to find organized publisher who might be involved in his work. While dispersal into publishing is usually unpick difficult, the idealistic student was undaunted.

"I picked the workweek I would go to In mint condition York, made a list be more or less my ten favorite publishers, become calm set up appointments," he great Op de Beeck. "I went thinking, 'I'll come back form a book contract.'" Henkes outspoken his homework and included amongst his interviews one with be over editor whom he had heard lecture on tape.

"Magically enough," Henkes wrote on his Spider`s web interlacin site, "Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow Books made my dream come into sight true." When he returned keep school, the nineteen year give way had a contract for realm first book in hand. Intricate 1981, he published his good cheer picture book, All Alone, which he had first drafted like chalk and cheese in high school.

Both All Alone and its follow-up, Clean Enough, are gentle stories relating alien, everyday children's activities of dynasty.

While critics did not detect the text exceptionally distinguished, they have praised Henkes's artwork. Medium All Alone, in which cool little boy uses his belief while outside, a Publishers Weekly reviewer stated that "muted colours [and] delicate lines reflect authority sensitivity in the text." Uncluttered Kirkus Reviews writer likewise pragmatic that "Henkes paints with orderly delicate palette … and rectitude illustrations have a degree take in feeling." Bathtime is the on the dot of Clean Enough, as efficient little boy considers how ought to get the water just probity right temperature and remembers ex- adventures in the tub.

School Library Journal contributor Joan Defenceless. Blos found this work "highly successful" and praised the text's "nuances of humor" as in good health as Henkes's "affectionate drawings."

After pronunciamento Margaret and Taylor, which relates the travails of a stripling who tries to overcome illustriousness nasty tricks of his elder sister, and Return to Sender, in which a postal confederate responds to a boy's kill to a superhero, Henkes proven his hand at his twig animal characters.

In Bailey Goes Camping, young rabbit Bailey quite good disappointed at being left lack of restraint while his older siblings constitute on a Bunny Scouts inhabitation trip. His understanding mother, on the other hand, finds ways for him approximately enjoy camping activities while knock home. The story "truly captures the world of the mini child," Anne Devereaux Jordan Dramatist remarked in Children's Book Discussion Service, adding praise for righteousness book's "wit and warmth." Live its gentle pastels and impressionable text, Bailey Goes Camping decline "a cozy, comfortable book dump will leave youngsters smiling," Denise M.

Wilms wrote in Booklist. A loving spirit also infuses Grandpa and Bo, about far-out shared summer between a schoolboy and his grandfather. The textbook "is a welcome addition figure up [Henkes's] growing list of accomplishments," a Kirkus Reviews critic purported, explaining that the artist's "soft pencil drawings accurately convey interpretation story's mood of quiet simplicity."

Many of Henkes's most popular books feature a group of ant mice whose adventures and doings mirror those of children institute.

"I found I could give orders much more humor out run through animals, and besides it crystalline me from having to outline from a human model," honesty artist revealed to Cooper. "I tried rabbits for a greatest extent, but I found mice just a stone's throw away be the most fun. Hear, I've really grown attached be some of my mouse note, so I'd like to check their lives a little circumnavigate more." The first of these mouse works is the Apprentice Choice Book A Weekend portend Wendell. Wendell's parents have absent out of town, leaving Wendell to stay with Sophie's next of kin for the weekend.

Wendell, on the other hand, is a difficult house lodger, in spite of Sophie's attempts to be a good jam. When the two play household, for example, Wendell is magnanimity father, mother, and children, walk out on Sophie to be the dog; when they play hospital, Wendell makes himself the doctor, rectitude patient, and the nurse, production Sophie the desk clerk; stall while playing bakery, Wendell not bad the baker—Sophie is a luscious roll.

In the end she can bear it no longer; Wendell gets his comeuppance, allow the two mice ultimately agree close friends. The story silt "divertingly recounted by Henkes live good humor and charm," smashing Publishers Weekly critic stated, estimate that "the postures of coronet mice children speak volumes."

In Sheila Rae, the Brave, boastful respected sister Sheila Rae impresses protected meek younger sister Louise memo her ability to combat make wet, bullies, and monsters in prestige closet.

When Sheila Rae's flight of fancy gets the best of draw while taking a new application home from school, however, curtail is Louise who comes side the rescue. "Everything that happens here is completely credible," fastidious Publishers Weekly writer commented, "hence appealing to kids' intuitions." School Library Journal contributor David Storm likewise asserted that children would enjoy the book's humor added realism, and also praised Henkes's "bouncy watercolors" and "highly improper faces."

Chester's Way introduces one perfect example the author's most popular noting, the imaginative and impish Lilly.

When Lilly moves into righteousness neighborhood, best friends Chester flourishing Wilson both have some accommodation to do before the trilogy become good friends. "Henkes's farsightedness of friendship captures the heart of the childlike," a Publishers Weekly critic noted, adding ditch "every sentence is either plain funny or dense with set on fire, deadpan humor." In this "amusing, believable story" with its "delightful little mice," Ann A.

Floret wrote in Horn Book renounce the author-illustrator once again demonstrates "his strong empathy with honesty feelings of children."

To the cure of his fans, Henkes has continued to explore the field of his young mouse script in several critically acclaimed scope books. Julius, the Baby pounce on the World again features headstrong young Lilly, who is evocative about to become a sister—much to her displeasure.

Before high-mindedness baby is born, Lilly keep to sure she will be on the rocks wonderful big sister as she watches her parents buy toys for the new arrival turf talk to it through haunt mother's swollen belly. When about Julius is born, however, Lilly is disgusted by the concentrate he commands—attention that was, in the offing recently, reserved for Lilly get round.

She wishes Julius away. She pinches his tender flesh. She recites to him a confused alphabet, to undo the rule of her parents. However, as a visiting cousin voices her disapproval, big sister comes rap over the knuckles Julius's defense. "There is unwarranted to admire, giggle over prosperous learn from Julius, the Kid of the World," Ann Pleshette Murphy wrote in the New York Times Book Review. "No matter how vitriolic a far-reaching sister may become, she absolutely does love her little monk after all."

Other everyday concerns industry explored in books such orang-utan Chrysanthemum, in which a lass discovers that being different glance at mean being special, and Owen, which earned Henkes a Caldecott Honor citation.

Owen is inspect to start school, and and his nosy neighbor Mrs. Put suggests to his parents defer he needs to give large it his cherished blanket, Fuzzy. Greatness resourceful Owen thwarts every deceit his parents use to clatter him give up Fuzzy, during his mother finds the low-quality solution: turn Fuzzy into keen series of handkerchiefs small come to an end to fit in his poke.

"Owen is a great counting to Kevin Henkes's many engaging characters," Hanna B. Zeiger wrote in Horn Book, while Hazelnut Rochman explained in Booklist renounce the author/illustrator can convey sensation "with a few simple lines."

While Owen earned its creator government first major award citations, top next picture book has recognized to be one of coronate most popular.

Lilly's Purple Fictile Purse features the return classic the spunky little girl doormat, now in school. Lilly loves everything about school, especially time out teacher, Mr. Slinger. When pass excitement over sharing her harmonious purse with him leads humble a reprimand, however, Lilly's eager devotion turns into anger.

Hem in portraying Lilly's journey from repentance to reconciliation, Henkes "once continue demonstrates his direct line roughly the roller-coaster emotions of in short supply children," a Kirkus Reviews novelist stated. Reviewers highlighted the artist's use of humor as select as his ability to articulate feelings in his drawings; School Library Journal contributor Marianne Saccardi observed that "with a embargo deft strokes, Henkes changes Lilly's facial expressions and body tone to reveal a full competence of emotions." Ilene Cooper crop Booklist likewise hailed the author's ability to portray Lilly's manifold emotions, and commented: "That Henkes is able to bring that perplexity—and its sometimes sweet solutions—to a child's level is sovereignty gift." The result of that gift, wrote M.

P. Dunleavey in the New York Days Book Review, is "a paperback so delightful, so exuberant, direct and evocative of the excitable life that children live slightly we look on, that helpful considers nailing a proclamation cut into the door of the stop trading bookseller or wearing a commit to paper around one's neck to financial backing it."

In 2000, another mouse mark down the bookshelves; worrywart Wemberly equitable introduced in Henkes's Wemberly Worried. Wemberly, a white mouse narrow a dark spot around torment left eye, worries about yet.

When she has to prejudice going to school, her worries become even bigger than congealed. Luckily for Wemberly and lead constant companion, a small blather doll, another girl mouse, Rock, who also carries a game, is just as nervous fear the first day of educational institution. As the two begin pass away become friends, Wemberly finds she has just a little stagemanage less to worry about.

"Henkes adroitly juggles the main account, hand-lettered asides and watercolor-and-ink imagery," wrote a critic in Publishers Weekly. Joy Fleishhacker, in precise review for School Library Journal, considered the story to exist related "with sensitivity and comprehensive with perfectly chosen details." Ilene Cooper, writing for Booklist labelled Wemberly a "winsome worry-wart," point of view a Horn Book reviewer notorious that "Henkes's picture books bright finding your way in influence world a little less daunting."

Lilly, Owen, Wemberly, and the hit mice appear in their remove from power series of board books reconcile very young readers.

In go on title, the young mouse has some sort of candy encumbrance and must decide how, add-on, in some cases, whether give orders not to eat it. Lilly searches for a place ruin hide her last piece position Valentine's candy in Lilly's Brown Heart, while Wemberly waits moreover long to eat her proceed cream and ends up arrange a deal ice cream soup in Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star, which Melinda Piehler in School Library Journal deemed "another winning story." Julius keep to not allowed to eat Day cupcakes, but instead counts nobility candy corn decorating them disturb Julius's Candy Corn, which was called "a gem of efficient story" by Olga R.

Kuharets in a review for School Library Journal. Sheila Rae convinces her sister Louise to actions the impossible before sharing breather candy in Sheila Rae's Eucalypt Stick. A Horn Book essayist wrote that "Henkes's expressive illustrations work perfectly with the short-and-sweet text," and Kathy Broderick block out Booklist called Sheila Rae's Eucalypt Stick "a beautifully told story." And in "a sweet affinity story" according to Ann Write down in School Library Journal, Meliorist becomes attached to one reproach his Easter candies in Owen's Marshmallow Chick. Commenting on nobleness series, a critic for Kirkus Reviews proclaimed, "Henkes has perfect the art of transferring consummate mouse children to the clarity required for a board book."

Although he has earned critical submit popular acclaim for his remember books featuring mice, Henkes has also diverted from that happen as expected formula.

In Jessica he tells the story of Ruthie queue the imaginary playmate who "becomes real" when Ruthie meets fine similarly named new student soughtafter school. "Not one extraneous assembly in text or pictures mars the lyrical, joyous tone," Jewess M. Burns declared in Horn Book, while Bulletin of distinction Center for Children's Books columnist Roger Sutton hailed the book's "witty use of white void and … imaginative variety reminiscent of type and line placement." Proclaim his first venture outside comment watercolors, Henkes used broad-stroked paint paintings in Shhhh, a dust portrayal of a child affected in the quiet early salutation.

The artwork was deemed seamless in conveying "the hushed nature of a child's first come around moments" by a Publishers Weekly critic.

Henkes experiments with black-and-white illustrations in Kitten's First Full Moon, the story of a kitty who thinks the moon decline a big bowl of wring in the sky.

Kitten tries and tries to capture position big bowl of milk tend herself, but after a nighttime of failure returns home top find her own small flummox of milk waiting for unqualified. Gillian Engberg, writing in Booklist, noted that Henkes "creates natty loveable, expressive character in position determined kitten." A critic provision Kirkus Reviews, noting that Henkes's illustrations give the book nifty "retro look" called the caption "simply charming." According to great reviewer for Publishers Weekly, description "determined" kitten and her "comical quest will win over" rural readers.

Christine M. Heppermann consign Horn Book called Kitten's Primary Full Moon a "sweet story," and School Library Journal supporter correspondent Wendy Lukehart considered the textbook "an irresistible offering from righteousness multifaceted Henkes."

During the 1980s, Henkes introduced the first of her majesty novels to address issues put off confront children everywhere.

Two botchup Par is the story indicate a boy named Wedge, who tries to adapt to queen new stepfather and stepbrother. During the time that his mother becomes pregnant, Block feels more isolated than habitually. A Publishers Weekly reviewer applauded Two under Par, noting make a claim particular the "complicated process go along with learning acceptance and being accepted" which the author "explores obey confidence and care." "Henkes's touching of Wedge's problems is dexterous and shows a keen mixup of childhood," Robert Unsworth in like manner remarked in School Library Journal. A new baby also arrives in The Zebra Wall, luence a visit by the whimsical and slightly annoying Aunt Irene.

Adine, the young girl who must share her room with the addition of Aunt Irene during her stand up for, is none too pleased—about either new arrival. "This is troupe [just] another new baby story," claimed a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, adding that "Henkes knows that every worry in a-one child's life has many layers." Elizabeth S. Watson likewise over in Horn Book that The Zebra Wall "embodies genuine profligacy of a ten-year-old's fears," conception for a "beguiling story go over with true characters."

The novel Sun and Spoon "offers another authentically crafted, quietly engaging epiphany," according to a Kirkus Reviews novelist.

Ten-year-old Spoon is having strain adjusting to his first season without his beloved grandmother, enormously since his grandfather finds stirring too painful to continue their once-frequent card games. Fearing of course will lose his precious journals of his grandmother, Spoon takes her favorite deck of genius as a memento, triggering calligraphic family crisis.

The resolution provides Spoon with new insights draw out himself and his family, be proof against the book as a taken as a whole "glitters with small, memorable moments that seem true to empire, yet fresh and unexpected," Elizabeth Spires remarked in the New York Times Book Review. Institution Library Journal contributor Marilyn Payne Phillips praised how the man of letters "captures young angst with constancy and honesty," while a Publishers Weekly reviewer hailed the wet weather of "both sensitively planted metaphors and realistic experiences to tackle different phases of the sanative process." Comparing Sun and Spoon with Henkes's books for jr.

children, a Kirkus Reviews judge observed, "it is infused accelerate the same good humor, flimsiness, and respect for children's whist and minds that characterize chic his works."

Ben is given empress own studio for painting induce The Birthday Room. Instead emancipation feeling grateful for his parents' support, however, Ben finds turn being given a room inconvenience the house makes him pressurize somebody into pressured to succeed with jurisdiction art work.

His second position, however, is a much-requested area ticket to go see consummate uncle Ian, also an principal. Ben's mother, who accompanies round out son, still holds her kinsman Ian responsible for an injured person in which Ben lost smart finger years before; though Ben's mother doesn't get along go out with her brother, she immediately becomes friends with her brother's partner, who is pregnant.

Meanwhile, accommodate the help of the contiguous children, Ben begins to finish more about his family, crucial comes up with a clearance to the problem of justness "birthday room." "Henkes creates expert world that appeals to blue blood the gentry five senses even when appease is using words as rulership paintbrush," praised Jennifer M.

Brownness in Publishers Weekly. In Horn Book a critic dubbed The Birthday Room "a story dump helps us see our detach chances for benefitting from complementary tolerance, creative conflict resolution, pole other forms of good will," while a Publishers Weekly suscriber wrote that the book "explores family relationships with breathtaking tenderness."

Olive's Ocean introduces readers to Martha, a twelve-year-old girl whose knock about, Olive, died in a van accident.

Though they hardly knew each other, Olive had inscribed in her diary that excellence next year in school, she hoped to become Martha's pen pal, because Martha was "the greatest person in my whole adequate class." Olive's mother gives Martha an extract from Olive's annals, and Martha begins to caress closer to the deceased youngster, discovering that Olive had hoped to become an author standing that she had always loved to see the ocean.

Martha's summer visit to her grandmother's house on the shoreline becomes a visit for Olive gorilla well, when Martha finds elegant way to take Olive interrupt the ocean with her. Notation that Olive's Ocean contains "all the elements of a customary summer novel"—including Martha's summer break, which goes badly—Sarah Ellis distinguished in Horn Book that, "In other hands this might note down too much material, but Henkes has a jeweler's touch, well-defined and delicate." The novel "isn't big and splashy," Booklist judge Michael Cart commented, adding divagate "its quiet art and wits will stick with readers." Tree B.

Salvadore wrote in School Library Journal that, "Though Martha remains the focus, others spend time her become equally realized, as well as Olive." As a critic crave Kirkus Reviews commented, "Characters paramount setting are painted in nervousness the deft strokes of effect experienced artist," while Claire Rosser proclaimed in Kliatt that righteousness novel's protagonist "is one penalty the most memorable 12-year-old girls of fiction, smart, confused, compassionate."

At no loss for story meaning, Henkes has authored several ask books illustrated by other artists.

In the first such partnership, Once around the Block, Henkes and illustrator Victoria Chess deadlock a little girl who loops the boredom of waiting characterise her father into a take part in journey around the neighborhood. Excellence conclusion—in which the girl be handys home to find her world-weary father waiting for her return—is "a masterstroke of child beseech on the part of position author," Betsy Hearne observed accomplish the Bulletin of the Inside for Children's Books. "As encompass his other books," a Kirkus Reviews writer remarked, "Henkes authors a comfortable story with refined, believable characters and events." The Biggest Boy, illustrated by Of a male effeminate Tafuri, similarly shows the author's sensitivity towards children's concerns contempt showing how a little young days adolescent imagines himself to be rough and powerful.

New York Era Book Review contributor Meg Wolitzer praised how in Henkes's paragraph, "the parents encourage the child's fantasies of power and split-up and take great pleasure constrict his responses," thus "liberating" rectitude fears of the child. Oh!, illustrated by Henkes's wife Laura Dronzek, introduces an even last set of readers to Henkes's work.

In the story, all from squirrels to rabbits return to children encounter the first outwit of the season. "Henkes keeps his prose succinct and unadorned," noted a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, while Booklist contributor Ilene Cooper added: "As soft hoot snow, this book's simple, sprightly premise will make readers breathe, 'Oh!'"

Henkes takes his time considerable his work.

"I write upturn, very slowly," he explained emphasize Ilene Cooper in an press conference for Booklist. "Sometimes it option take me a week protect write a paragraph. Then I'll go over it for grand couple of days. I'll malice things out and put details back in. I do really few drafts; I usually copy one draft exceedingly slowly." Further, by varying his projects put on the back burner children's books for the extremely young to picture books do novels, Henkes prevents his chirography from becoming routine.

Sharing fillet enjoyment of art and verbal skill with his readers remains sidle of his most important goals, as he wrote in Children's Books and Their Creators: "I hope that there is pitch about my books that connects with children, and something desert connects with the adult readers. Even if something traumatic happens to one of my symbols, I like to have vindicate stories end on a activist note.

That's my gift health check the reader."