Kevin Henkes is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Born on November 27, 1960, he has made a significant contribution to children's literature.

As an illustrator, he won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon in 2004. Two of his books were Newbery Medal Honor Books: Olive's Ocean in 2004 and The Year of Billy Miller in 2014. His picture book Waiting was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.

In 2020, he won the Children's Literature Legacy Award.

Kevin Henkes has expressed a deep passion for his work, stating, "I've been writing and illustrating children's books for thirty years. It's the only real job I've ever had. When my work is going well, it's transformative. I feel as if I've been removed from ordinary time and am living in some parallel universe, a world of grace and wonder."

He emphasizes the importance of children's books as an early exposure to art and strives to create the best books possible, driven by the impact books had on him during his childhood.

More information about Kevin Henkes can be found on his official website.