An Author Study: Kevin Henkes

Conducting an author study in your classroom has many advantages. When you focus on a specific, well-known author and his or her books, you give students a chance to analyze writing styles, themes, characters, and subjects. Kevin Henkes is a great way to introduce students to the idea of an author's study. He has written several prize-winning books, such as  "Sheila Ray the Brave," which all feature mice characters.

At the beginning of an author's study, I create a KWL chart to get students thinking about the author, and find out what they know. Then, the class lists questions they would like to answer about the author, his life, or his books. After generating the questions, I assign groups of students topics to research about the author’s life by visiting the Kevin Henkes website. Finally, the students share their research with the rest of their classmates.

Once students have learned some background information about the author, we read  "Wemberly Worried." This is a good book to read at the beginning of the year since it discusses Wemberly's worries during the first day of school. It is both heartwarming and very funny (make sure to read the slogans on grandma's t-shirts). After reading the book, I have my students brainstorm a list of “worries." Then they share their thoughts with a neighbor. This activity works as an excellent ice-breaker

Another great book to incorporate is "Julius, Baby of the World." The theme is sibling relationships. I introduce the idea of text-to-self connections. Before reading the book, I discuss the term “text to self” so students can begin to understand how to make these connections. Then, I hand out post-it notes and have them jot down connections they made to the text while I read it aloud. Afterwards, students develop a narrative response to the book. It is amazing to see how many students can relate to this book!

Students also enjoy "Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse," especially at the beginning of the year. The book deals with a character following the classroom rules. This book opens up communication about classroom rules and why they are important. I recommend visiting the official Kevin Henkes website for more ideas and a list of upcoming books. Here are more fantastic lesson resources.

Author's Study:Kevin Henkes:

What's In a Name?

This lesson uses the book "Chrysanthemum" and focuses on how to handle bullying.

Conflict Resolution/Self-Discipline

This lesson introduces the book "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse." Students discuss self-discipline and write a letter to the main character.

"Jessica" by Kevin Henkes

 Students read the book "Jessica" and use art supplies to create their own imaginary friend.