10 Feb Celebrating Kevin Henkes!
Once a year, librarians across the country eagerly await the announcement of the Youth Media Awards, hosted by the American Library Association. Committees select the best books and media for children and young adults in many categories. People speculate about what will win and even get up early to watch the livestream! The most recent Youth Media Awards were announced on Monday, January 27, 2020.
Most of the awards are for specific books, but the Children’s Literature Legacy Award (CLLA) is an exception. It honors the career of an author or illustrator who has made a lasting contribution to literature for children.
The 2020 winner of the CLLA is Kevin Henkes. Henkes is a current writer of many beloved books. He has already won numerous awards, including the Caldecott Award for illustration. There’s a wonderful biography at the ALA Children’s Literacy Legacy Award page.
Here are just some of the Kevin Henkes books at PGTPL; anyone in the Children’s Room will be happy to help you find them!
Picture Books
Birds: Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common.
Waiting: An owl, puppy, bear, bunny, and pig wait for marvelous things to happen.
My Garden: After helping her mother weed, water, and chase the rabbits from their garden, a young girl imagines her dream garden complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and tomatoes the size of beach balls.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse: Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.
The Penny Series of Early Readers
Penny and Her Marble: Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin’s grass, but gets a pleasant surprise when she goes to return it the next day.
Chapter Books
The Year of Billy Miller: When Billy Miller has a mishap at the statue of the Jolly Green Giant at the end of summer vacation, he ends up with a big lump on his head. What a way to start second grade, with a lump on your head! As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, how to appreciate his little sister, and how to be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mom and stay-at-home dad.
Sweeping Up the Heart: After an eventful spring break, seventh-grader Amelia Albright’s life changes forever.
Kevin Henkes has had a long career and he is still an active writer. Here at the library, we’re looking forward to whatever he writes next!
“Kevin Henkes” by Alvintrusty is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
