Janez Bitenc (25 October 1925 – 4 February 2005) was a Slovene composer and music teacher, best known for the music he wrote for over 400 children's songs and musical stories.

Bitenc was born in Ljubljana. He studied music at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana where he graduated in 1952. As composing music he also wrote the lyrics for many of his children's songs and published book of stories for children. In 1971, he won the Levstik Award for his book of songs for young children Ciciban poje (Ciciban Sings). He died in Ljubljana at the age of 79 years.

Bitenc's songs are known by more or less all pre-school and primary school children in Slovenia. Among the most known of his are Kuža pazi (Little Dog is Watching), Naša četica koraka (Our Little Squad is Marching), Zajček dolgoušček (Rabbit Long-Ears), Ringa raja, and others.