Synopses & Reviews
The Story behind "Kitten s First Full Moon"
I ve always been drawn to picture books for the youngest child. I love their simplicity and their poetic nature. When I became a parent, this attraction intensified, and so I tried my hand at creating board books. I also became interested in simple concept books and tried without success to write some. One failed attempt was all about circles a ball, a bowl, a button, a plate, a marble. A line from that book read: The cat thought the moon was a bowl of milk. The book idea didn t work, but I liked this line and it stuck with me. Over time several years the line expanded in my mind and finally became the text of "Kitten s First Full Moon."
From the very beginning I pictured the book with black-and-white illustrations, bold sans serif type, a square trim size, and soft, creamy paper. I love to use color even bright color in most of my picture books, but for this book color seemed unnecessary. I thought that by keeping everything as simple and spare as possible, a better, tighter, more complete book would result. I liked the idea of having a white moon, a white cat, and a white bowl of milk surrounded by the black night.
When I draw, I usually use a crow-quill pen, which makes a rather thin line. This time I wanted a much thicker line, and I wanted the line to vary in thickness, so I drew with a brush a technique I d never used before in any of my books.
Although the finished art is very dissimilar to Clare Turlay Newberry s, I thought of "Kitten s First Full Moon" as a sort of tribute to her all the while I worked on the art. Theblack-and-white illustrations of cats in her books, including "Mittens," "Pandora," and "Marshmallow," are masterful. I ve always admired them. And, although she isn t given a name other than Kitten, I secretly think of my heroine as Clare.
I also admire the work of Jean Charlot. His illustrations for Margaret Wise Brown s "A Child s Good Night Book" and "Two Little Trains" and for Melcho F. Ferrer s "Tito s Hats" are some of my favorites in any children s books. His line work is simple, direct, and to my mind, perfect. I am struck by his ability to capture the essence of something beautifully, without one bit of excess. I looked to Jean Charlot for inspiration before I began to draw "Kitten."
Illustrating Kitten was enjoyable, more enjoyable than I had any right to expect, perhaps because making the art for this book was different for me. But I am a creature of habit. I ve begun work on a new picture book, and this time like many other times it s about a mouse, not a cat.
"Kevin Henkes"
Synopsis
This nationally bestselling picture book about a kitten, the moon, and a bowl of milk, written by the celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Henkes, was awarded a Caldecott Medal.
From one of the most celebrated and beloved picture book creators working in the field today comes a memorable new character and a suspenseful adventure just right for reading and sharing at home and in the classroom. It is Kitten's first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants it. Does she get it? Well, no . . . and yes. What a night
A brief text, large type, and luminescent pictures play second fiddle to the star of this classic picture book--brave, sweet and lucky Kitten "Henkes's text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's work in the elemental words, rhythms, and appealing sounds, tells a warm, humorous story that's beautifully extended in his shimmering, gray-toned artwork."--ALA Booklist
Winner of the Caldecott Medal, an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award
Synopsis
What a night!
The moon is full.
Kitten is hungry
and inquisitive
and brave
and fast
and persistent
and unlucky . . .
then lucky!
What a night!
Synopsis
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Synopsis
What a night
The moon is full.
Kitten is hungry
and inquisitive
and brave
and fast
and persistent
and unlucky . . .
then lucky
What a night
About the Author
Kevin Henkes is the author and illustrator of close to fifty critically acclaimed and award-winning picture books, beginning readers, and novels. He received the Caldecott Medal for
Kitten's First Full Moon in 2005. Kevin Henkes is also the creator of a number of picture books featuring his mouse characters, including the #1
New York Times bestsellers
Lilly's Big Day and
Wemberly Worried, the Caldecott Honor Book
Owen, and the beloved
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. His most recent mouse character, Penny, was introduced in
Penny and Her Song (2012); her story continued in
Penny and Her Doll and
Penny and Her Marble (a Geisel Honor Book). Bruce Handy, in a
New York Times Book Review piece about
A Good Day, wrote, "It should be said: Kevin Henkes is a genius." Kevin Henkes received two Newbery Honors for novels—one for his newest novel for young readers,
The Year of Billy Miller, and the other for
Olive's Ocean. Also among his fiction for older readers are the novels
Junonia,
Bird Lake Moon,
The Birthday Room, and
Sun & Spoon. He lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin.
Kevin Henkes is the author and illustrator of close to fifty critically acclaimed and award-winning picture books, beginning readers, and novels. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon in 2005. Kevin Henkes is also the creator of a number of picture books featuring his mouse characters, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Lilly's Big Day and Wemberly Worried, the Caldecott Honor Book Owen, and the beloved Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. His most recent mouse character, Penny, was introduced in Penny and Her Song (2012); her story continued in Penny and Her Doll and Penny and Her Marble (a Geisel Honor Book). Bruce Handy, in a New York Times Book Review piece about A Good Day, wrote, "It should be said: Kevin Henkes is a genius." Kevin Henkes received two Newbery Honors for novels—one for his newest novel for young readers, The Year of Billy Miller, and the other for Olive's Ocean. Also among his fiction for older readers are the novels Junonia, Bird Lake Moon, The Birthday Room, and Sun & Spoon. He lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin.