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Kevin Hawkes

Author/Artist

About

Don't miss A Closer Look -
the Microscapes of Kevin Hawkes

Ocean House Gallery

93 Ocean Street

South Portland, ME 04106

Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5

On-line link for show:

https://www.oceanhousegallery.com/a-closer-look

Who is Kevin Hawkes?

Kevin Hawkes is an author/illustrator of over 50 acclaimed picture and chapter books including the New York Times best seller Library Lion, Have a Look Says Book, Chicken Cheeks, The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, and Weslandia. His vibrant colors, unusual perspectives, and dry sense of humor are hallmarks of his work.

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School Visits

Booking now for In-person and Virtual Visits

Let us match the presentation to meet the needs of your group! Kevin is vaccinated and willing to come to your school or library this fall. Virtual options included a pre-recorded presentation, live zoom Q&A and snail mail class pen pals. Learn more about inperson and virtual options. Please email for more information!

"The kids and teachers said he was the best author we've had here. They absolutely loved him."

Librarian

Berwick, ME

Books

The magical work of Kevin Hawkes!!

Contact us to purchase personalized copies

FAQ

Q. How do you get ideas for your books?

A. My best ideas start with a childhood memory and morph into something weird but cool.

Q. How do you get better at drawing?

A. Find somebody who knows how to draw better than you do and learn all you can from them. Practice, practice, practice. Drawing is like playing the violin; it takes awhile to get good at it.

Q. What was your favorite book as a child?

A. I love books about animals. I loved Robert Lawson’s drawings in The Story of Ferdinand. His shadows and beautiful clouds made me feel like I was outdoors on a sunny, summer day. Favorite chapter books were the Freddy the Pig series by Walter R. Brooks. Freddy was clever, liked to eat and wanted to be brave - just like me!

Q. Do you have any pets?

A. I have had lots of pets (hamsters, iguanas, fish, lizards, guinea pigs and dogs). A few have made their way into my books. Right now, our only pet is a golden retriever named Cleo.

Q. How did you decide to become an illustrator?

A. I loved to draw and make messy art projects and I loved to read so I put those 2 things together and became an author and illustrator. Besides, my idea of becoming a cowboy didn’t work out since I didn’t own a horse.

Q. Who are some of your favorite artists?

A. Maxfield Parrish, Arthur Rackham, William Joyce, P.J. Lynch, and Chris Van Allsburg.

Q. What story have you always wanted to illustrate but haven’t yet?

A. I love Grimm’s fairy tales, especially Hansel and Gretel.

School Visits

If you like newsprint and markers, flying farmers, and a few dozen piranhas, then consider a visit from Kevin Hawkes to your school or library. His presentation is lively, interactive, and always humorous. He covers everything from how to get story ideas to making your drawings more interesting. Kevin will take you through the process of bringing a book to life using sketches, dummy books, and original illustrations.

To find out about availability and honorarium fees for your area, please email us. In the meantime, this school packet should answer most of your questions.