Kevin Hawkes-Maine Children's Book Illustrator

Library Lion

by: Michelle Knudsen

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/15/2009)

This story's appealing premise is clear in the first sentence: "One day, a lion came to the library." There's the expected uproar as the lion pads through the stacks, but librarian Miss Merriweather only asks: "Is he breaking any rules?" The lion is not, and so he is allowed to stay. He makes himself useful and enjoys story hour until Miss Merriweather falls and breaks her arm. The lion roars for help, but his noise prompts a scolding from an uptight, oblivious staff member. The story falters a bit as it explores messages about rules and exceptions in a way that feels both purposeful and a bit convoluted. The warm friendships will easily draw interest, though, as will the handsome, nostalgic pencil-and-acrylic illustrations. Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, which yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon

by: Caroline Stutson

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/15/2009)

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-A cumulative tale in which a series of beasties and ghoulies threaten to nibble at a child's toes. These scary creatures run the gamut from the familiar bat and witch to the lesser-known ghoul and sprite. They emerge from tomb and darkness to pinch, grab, or bite the legs that are pictured dangling over the edge of the bridge. The pileup of menacing monsters and the close calls build tension until the complete picture of a self-assured little girl appears. Her fully capitalized expression of proprietary rights will assure readers that she knows how to take care of herself. The final scene, in which she fiddles a Halloween tune for the dancing monsters, creates a comic resolution, making the night a time of fun as well as near-terror. While the edges of the illustrations are sometimes fuzzy, the opaque jewel tones and the details of costume and expression make the ghosts anything but remote. A great nighttime party for all year round.

A Christmas Treasury: Very Merry Stories and Poems

by: Various

Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)

The reflected glow of firelight flickers through the illustrations in this collection of traditional carols and tales (including a passage from The Wind in the Willows and Clement C. Moore's classic poem), lending a cheery warmth. Wielding his brush with equal parts humor and nostalgia, Hawkes spans the emotions of the season, from the winsome frivolity of field-mice caroling at the door to Mole End to the quiet reverence of "The Friendly Beasts," where barnyard animals, their outlines softly blurred, worship the babe in the manger. All ages.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon ; Paperback Book & Audio Cassette

by: Kevin Hawkes

Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-A cumulative tale in which a series of beasties and ghoulies threaten to nibble at a child's toes. These scary creatures run the gamut from the familiar bat and witch to the lesser-known ghoul and sprite. They emerge from tomb and darkness to pinch, grab, or bite the legs that are pictured dangling over the edge of the bridge. The pileup of menacing monsters and the close calls build tension until the complete picture of a self-assured little girl appears. Her fully capitalized expression of proprietary rights will assure readers that she knows how to take care of herself. The final scene, in which she fiddles a Halloween tune for the dancing monsters, creates a comic resolution, making the night a time of fun as well as near-terror. While the edges of the illustrations are sometimes fuzzy, the opaque jewel tones and the details of costume and expression make the ghosts anything but remote. A great nighttime party for all year round.

The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum

by: Kathleen Krull

Amazon Price: $14.03 (as of 12/15/2009)

KATHLEEN KRULL'S LIVELY text traces the life of L. Frank Baum from his dreamy privileged childhood in mid-19th-century upstate New York through the many detours on his road to Oz. A failure as an actor, a breeder of prize chickens, a merchant in a wild west town, among other occupations, he finally made a success doing exactly what he had always loved to do: tell stories for children. Along the way, we see the antecedents of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, green glasses, and other characters and attributes of the famous fantasy land. This is the first biography of L. Frank Baum that children can enjoy.

With the same verve she brought to her biography of Dr. Seuss, Kathleen Krull's wry prose couples with Kevin Hawke's exuberant paintings and drawings to create a book not to be missed by Oz fans of all ages.

Chicken Cheeks

by: Michael Ian Black

Amazon Price: $10.87 (as of 12/15/2009)

And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends

by: Mary Ann Hoberman

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/15/2009)

Kevin Hawkes's jubilant illustrations fill every page with rich color and wild commotion. Grannies with towering beehive hairdos prance with bagpipe-brandishing boys in Mohawks; babies burst out of tubas, blasting English horns; one pajama'd papa floats ethereally by, tooting his trumpet. The message is plain: make music, not war.

The Wicked Big Toddlah

by: Kevin Hawkes

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/15/2009)

When a baby is born in Maine, his uncle says, "That's a wicked big toddlah ya got theyah!" Big? Gigantic is more like it. Known as Toddie, the baby has fingers as big as some of the relatives. It takes two people to give him his bottle. And changing his diaper . . . let's just say forklifts, hoses, and women in Hazmat suits are involved. There's no real story here, just double-page spreads of Toddie and the Lilliputians who are trying to take care of him or, just as likely, getting out of his way. The artwork is terrific. Using woodsy Maine, with its cobalt skies and azure waters, as background, Hawkes finds a way to make Toddie endearing and a little frightening at the same time. Kids will be fascinated when his huge head peeks over a hill or when he crawls about at Thanksgiving, yelling "Hihowaahya?!!" as tiny grannies and little cousins scatter to the winds.

My Little Sister Ate One Hare (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

by: Bill Grossman

Amazon Price: $17.20 (as of 12/15/2009)

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A counting book that talks about swallowing slimy creatures, ant's underpants, and regurgitation, and has outrageous illustrations is a guaranteed success with the primary-grade crowd. The cumulative rhyme has the irreverence of Silverstein or Prelutsky and the art has the rollicking humor of Lane Smith. A young magician, the narrator's sister, puts on a show, eating one hare, two snakes, etc. She isn't grossed out by consuming any bat or shrew, but give her nutritious food and watch out. The text is enriched by the inclusion of just parts of previous number rhymes, so the narrative doesn't become totally repetitive. The "low fat" worm jar with our heroine dressed as a chicken and the shrews walking the sword "plank" into oral doom are just two of the priceless pictures. The anticipated ending is awesome with stunned critters everywhere, even on the audience of the magic show.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

by: Kathryn Lasky

Amazon Price: $12.23 (as of 12/15/2009)

This picture book covers the life of Eratosthenes of Cyrene, a geographer who estimated the circumference of the Earth in around 200 B.C.. Though he was in fact a librarian, he is famous for his scientific accomplishments. Since little is known about his personal life, Lasky describes his early years in general terms. He liked to ask questions, loved learning at the gymnasium, and sailed off to Athens to further his studies. He became tutor to the son of King Ptolemy III of Egypt, and eventually became the head of Alexandria's magnificent library. Readers don't come to know the subject intimately, but they do get to know his times very well. The narrative is filled with fascinating details about his world. Hawkes's illustrations make a large contribution, as they contain authentic examples of the art, architecture, and social structure of ancient life. His paintings are rich and warm and filled with touches of humor, making the people, as well as their environment, come alive. The pictures combine with the text to give a clear explanation of how the man came to make his key discovery about the Earth's circumference. A fine combination of history, science, and biography.

The Dragonfly Pool

by: Eva Ibbotson

Amazon Price: $12.23 (as of 12/15/2009)

At first Tally doesn't want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But she soon discovers that it is a wonderful place where freedom and selfexpression are valued. Tally organizes a ragtag dance troupe so the school can participate in an international folk dancing festival in Bergania in the summer of 1939. There she befriends Karil, the crown prince, who would love nothing more than to have ordinary friends and attend a school like Delderton. When Karil's father is assassinated, it is up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he has inherited.

Weslandia

by: Paul Fleischman

Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)

This fantastical picture book, like its hero, is bursting at the seams with creativity. Wesley's imagination sets him apart; not only does he sport purple sneakers and glasses, he thinks football is stupid and refuses to shave half his head like all the other boys. "He sticks out," says his mother. "Like a nose," bemoans his father. Ironically, a banal aside from his father gives Wesley an idea for a summer project: he establishes a new civilization in his own backyard, eventually attracting his former tormentors and befriending them. Fleischman (Joyful Noise) and Hawkes (My Little Sister Ate One Hare) offer a vigorous shot in the arm to nonconformists everywhere. A droll, deadpan text describes how Wesley prepares the soil for a seemingly magical influx of seedlings. Unable to identify the new staple crop, Wesley names it "swist," gathers food from its fruit and tubers, weaves clothing from its fibers and fashions suntan lotion and mosquito repellent from the oil of its seeds (which, in a Tom Sawyeresque business maneuver, he allows his now-curious foes to grindAand then he sells the product to them). In vibrant, puckish acrylic paintings, Hawkes captures the entrepreneurial essence of Wesley. From the makeshift shield that protects him from garbage-throwing classmates to his cluttered bedroom overflowing with inventions and science projects to the giant red-flowering jungle he cultivates, Wesley's universe clearly exists on a slightly parallel plane. Yet Hawkes introduces the outlandish elements so naturally that they seem organic.

Island of the Aunts

by: Eva Ibbotson

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/15/2009)

It isn't easy taking care of an entire island and its needy, sometimes magical inhabitants and visitors, so the caregivers, Aunts Myrtle, Etta, and Coral, decide to kidnap three children from London to help them with such tasks as cleaning mermaids who were caught in an oil slick and coaxing an egg-bound boobrie to lay its enormous eggs. Two of the children, Fabio and Minette, turn out to be enthusiastic workers who grow to love the island and their charges, but Lambert Sprott is a cell-phone-addicted brat. In fact, it is Lambert's nefarious father who, in rescuing his son, makes a near-successful attempt to exploit the isle's magical creatures for his own gain. The tone of this book is as no-nonsense as stern but kind Aunt Etta. No mercy is shown to self-obsessed, environment-polluting grown-ups and nasty, ill-behaved children, but sanctimony is held at bay by the dry humor that permeates the story. The plunder of the sanctuary by Mr. Sprott and his crew is filled with scenes of real menace and suspense-readers will not be able to put the book down until they know for sure that all the island's inhabitants are safe and sound. The 14 black-and-white illustrations add quiet charm and humor.

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle

by: Eva Ibbotson

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/15/2009)

Eleven-year-old Madlyn and her younger brother, Rollo, are sent to stay with their great-aunt and -uncle Clawstone at crumbling Clawstone Castle, only to be embroiled in the castle's financial troubles; the castle must attract more paying visitors to maintain its legendary herd of Wild White cattle. To compete with a nearby attraction, the castle needs some chills and thrills, so the Clawstones select some vulgar, terrifying ghosts and set up such a frightening show that tourists scream, faint, and retch--only to return with their friends. Through the machinations of some unknown persons, however, the Clawstones lose the cattle, leaving the children (and the ghosts) with a mystery to solve. Plot embellishments are sometimes distracting, and the convoluted story comes together in a series of coincidences. Ibbotson's charismatic ghosts are great, however------as human as they are horrific--and there's plenty of quirky humor in this energetic, diverting read, loaded with charm.

Talking With Artists, Vol. 3: Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis and Paul O. Zelinsky

by: Pat Cummings

Amazon Price: $22.00 (as of 12/15/2009)

Gr. 3-8-Thirteen children's book illustrators discuss their lives and how they communicate their ideas. All of the profiles open with personal essays titled "My Story" revealing some biographical details but focusing on childhood dreams and ambitions, training, sources of inspiration, and feelings about their career choices. Following this section, a number of questions are posed-the same as those presented in the first two volumes-that explore the subject's personal and professional life. Then-and-now photos of the illustrators and reproductions of childhood and recent work accompany the narrative. The artists include Ra#l Col?n, Lisa Desimini, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Peter S!s, Paul O. Zelinsky, and others, and they represent a variety of styles and mediums. While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations.

Biography - Hawkes, Kevin (1959-): An article from: Contemporary Authors

by: Gale Reference Team

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/15/2009)

This digital document, covering the life and work of Kevin Hawkes, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1866 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:
Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
Family members
Education
Professional associations and honors
Employment
Writings, including books and periodicals
A description of the author's work
References to further readings about the author

Then the Troll Heard the Squeak (Picture Puffins)

by: Kevin Hawkes

Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)

Miss Terry's fondness for jumping on the bed in the middle of the night sets the entire household on its ear. As she bounces rambunctiously, furniture rumbles on the floors beneath her and family members and servants alike are tossed from their beds--even Grandma's dentures go flying. Just when another sleepless night seems imminent, the giant troll who lives in the basement is awakened. Not at all amused, he climbs the crooked staircase to the top of the house and solves the problem once and for all. In his debut book, Hawkes employs a limerick-style verse--the perfect vehicle for his tale of utter nonsense, and his intriguing artwork makes good use of dense, well-balanced color. Unusual, imaginative perspectives and open-sided views of the old Victorian house are a real delight.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon ; Paperback Book & Audio Cassette

by: Kevin Hawkes

Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)