 Henkes' first book, "All Alone", was published in 1981 by Greenwillow Books.More than 50 books followed, including "Chrysanthemum" and "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse".In 1994 Henkes was a runner-up for one of the premier American Library Association (ALA) children's book awards, the Caldecott Medal for "Owen", one of his mouse books.