Stephen Wilkins Jenkins (March 31, 1952 December 26, 2021) was an American children's book author. He illustrated, wrote, and art-directed over 80 books.
Jenkins was born March 31, 1952, in Hickory, North Carolina, to Alvin and Margaret Jenkins. His father, who was a physics professor and astronomer, did research and taught at various universities, so he spent much of his childhood moving from one city to the next.
He received a bachelor's and master's from the School of Design at North Carolina State University (NCSU). During his time at NCSU, he met his wife, Robin Page. After graduating, the couple moved to New York City, and in 1982, founded their own graphic design firm, Jenkins & Page. In 1994, they moved to Boulder, Colorado.
Jenkins's debut book, DuckâÂÂs Breath and Mouse Pie, was published in 1994.
Jenkins died on December 26, 2021, of a splenic artery aneurysm, in Boulder, Colorado.
Forty-four of Jenkins's books are Junior Library Guild selections.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books included the following books in their lists of the best books of the year: How to Swallow a Pig (2015) and Animals by the Numbers (2016). The Horn Book Magazine has included the following books in their lists of the best children's nonfiction books of the year: The Top of the World (1999), Life on Earth (2002), Invisible Allies (2005), and The Animal Book (2013).