Picture Book Month Day 3

I'd like to continue the celebration of picture books with another of my favorite authors, Kevin Henkes. He is the winner of the Caldecott Medal in 2005 and received an honor in 1994.  He also writes children's fiction and received a Newbery honor in 2004.  What I have always loved about his books is how they convey the true-to-life feelings of his characters.  He really remembers how it feels to be a child and his characters are all so vibrant. 

This was one of the author's first books that I read.  It was published in 1990, when I was starting out as a children's librarian and became an immediate favorite of mine.  The book was a winner of the ALA Notable Children's Books 1990.  It is the story of a little mouse named Lilly, who appears in many of Henkes' books, who is dealing with a new baby brother. "Before Julius was born, Lilly was the best big sister in the world...After Julius was born, it was a different story."  Lilly is feeling quite put out with everyone fawning over Julius, so she gets her "revenge" in little ways - reciting the alphabet wrong to him, calling him a "germ" and asking her parents when he will be leaving.  Lily spends a lot of time in the "uncooperative chair", but when a cousin insults her brother she quickly defends Julius.  As a big sister, I really identified with Lily's feelings and Henkes portrayed them so accurately. He doesn't sugarcoat Lilly's feelings of anger or her mean words and actions. A wonderful book that deals with all the feelings that come with a new sibling - both jealousy and love.

This book won a Caldecott honor in 1994.  Owen reminded me of my little brother and his "Blankie." Owen is very attached to his yellow blanket, "Fuzzy."  "He carried it. And wore it. And dragged it. He sucked it. And hugged it. And twisted it."  When it is almost time to begin school, his parents take the advice of a next door neighbor to ween Owen from Fuzzy.  Their plans to get rid of Fuzzy do not work.  Finally, mom makes Fuzzy into little handkerchiefs that Owen can carry to school.  Another book that deals with a common childhood issue in a loving way.

Winner of the 2005 Caldecott medal, this title introduced a new style of picture book from Henkes.  This book is a simply told story of a kitten who thinks the moon is a bowl of milk.  The illustrations are black and white and beautifully rendered with simple line and shapes.  The story is told with a rhythm reminiscent of Margaert Wise Brown. As each attempt by the kitten to reach the milk fails, "Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting." This story works wonderfully for story times. 

 

Kevin Henkes has continued this new style of picture book, with the exception of another Lilly book, Lilly's Big Day. He has added color to the beautful lines of Kitten's First Full Moon.  These are two of my favorites in the new style.  In Old Bear, a hibernating bear dreams his way through the seasons.  Again, the rhythm complements the illustations, "Old Bear slept and dreamed, dreamed and slept."  The newest book, 2011's Little White Rabbit  is a story about a springtime adventure. The beautiful illustrations perfectly capture the palette of spring.  The text is even sparcer that in previous titles and the rhythm is still perfect, "When he hopped by the fir trees, he wondered what it would be like to be tall...When he hopped under the butterflies, he wondered what it would be like to flutter through the air."  These pages are followed by a full 2-page spread illustration of rabbit's imagination - see him peeking over the fir trees and soaring with the butterflies.  I have used both of these very successfully in story times.

Kevin Henkes is obviously multi-talented and I love his children's novels as much as his picture books.  I love both styles of picture book and wonder if he will be re-inventing his style again someday.  Be sure to check out this wonderful author!