Author & Illustrator Profile
Ryan T. Higgins
15 Books
Ryan T. Higgins is a best-selling author and illustrator of children's picture books, best known for his wildly popular Mother Bruce series. His stories frequently feature grumpy but endearing animal characters, pairing dry, relatable humor with vibrant and expressive artwork. Through engaging storytelling and memorable protagonists like Bruce the bear, Higgins consistently delights both young readers and adults.
Books in "Mother Bruce"
It is a beautiful summer beach day in Soggy Hollow, and the entire forest is ready to enjoy some fun in the bright sun. Everyone is excited, except for Bruce the bear. To Bruce, the beach is an absolute nightmare! The sun is way too hot, the wind keeps blowing things around, and the scratchy sand seems to get into absolutely everything. While his friends splash in the water and build sandcastles, Bruce just wants to find a cool, quiet spot in the shade and do absolutely nothing at all. Join this hilariously grumpy bear as he tries to survive the worst season of the year, counting down the days until autumn finally returns.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Bruce the bear just wants to take a quiet nap, but his fun-loving mice friends have a completely different plan! Rupert, Thistle, and Nibbs are ready for an adventure, and they need your help to make it happen.
In this hilarious interactive story, you are in charge of the action. The mice will give you silly instructions to follow as you read. You will need to turn the pages, flip the book upside down, and shake things up to send a very grumpy Bruce tumbling and flying through the story. You might even find him staring right up your nose!
Get ready to giggle out loud as you control what happens next. Packed with funny surprises and fantastic artwork, this unique book invites you to play along and create a wild, unforgettable reading experience with everyone's favorite reluctant bear.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
It is finally bedtime in Soggy Hollow, but getting to sleep is the last thing on anyone's mind. Bruce the bear is ready for some peace and quiet, but his energetic family of mice and geese have completely different plans. They would much rather watch late-night monster movies, build model airplanes, and eat massive bowls of ice cream! As the night drags on, Bruce tries everything he can to get his chaotic family tucked into bed. If you have ever tried to stay awake past your bedtime, you will laugh out loud at the hilarious tricks these animals play to avoid going to sleep.
6-8 Years
Bruce is a very grumpy bear who likes to keep to himself. He does not like sunny days, he does not like cute animals, and he definitely does not like surprises. What he does like is cooking fancy recipes with eggs! But one day, his breakfast takes an unexpected turn when his goose eggs hatch into four fluffy goslings. Even worse, the little birds take one look at the grumpy bear and decide he is their mother! No matter how hard Bruce tries to get rid of them, the goslings refuse to leave his side. Now, this grumpy loner must figure out how to raise a flock of demanding geese who want to do everything from migrating south to practicing ballet. Get ready to laugh out loud at this hilarious story about an accidental family and the funny ways love sneaks up on you.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Bruce the bear is not a fan of Halloween, but his quirky family of mice and geese are determined to change his mind! The residents of Soggy Hollow are buzzing with excitement, ready to celebrate the spookiest night of the year. To get everyone into the festive spirit, they decide to tell a thrilling, chilling story. As the mice and geese spin their spooky tale, poor Bruce finds himself swept up in their hilarious holiday antics. You and your young reader will laugh out loud as the grumpy bear tries his best to avoid the Halloween fun, only to be outsmarted by his enthusiastic adopted family. Packed with silly moments and charming illustrations, this delightful adventure perfectly captures the joy of the season. It is a wonderful, not-too-scary treat for anyone who loves a good laugh.
6-8 Years
Bruce is a very grumpy bear who loves to cook and take care of his geese, but he is definitely not Santa Claus. Unfortunately, the rest of the forest animals do not seem to know that! When Bruce puts on his warm red winter hat and long underwear to fight the cold, the youngest woodland creatures mistake him for jolly old Saint Nick. Before he knows what is happening, a massive line of animals forms, all waiting to tell him their special Christmas wishes. No matter how much he grumbles and complains, Bruce just cannot seem to convince them that he is simply a bear trying to survive the winter. Get ready for a hilarious holiday mix-up that will keep you laughing from start to finish.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Living with Bruce the bear can be a little exhausting because he is always so grumpy. His family of mice and geese often wish he would lighten up and enjoy himself. But when Bruce's cheerful and energetic cousin Kevin comes for a surprise visit, the family gets exactly what they asked for, and maybe a whole lot more! Kevin brings non-stop fun, wild games, and endless excitement to their quiet home. Soon, the family realizes that having a fun bear around is actually a lot of work. You will laugh out loud as they discover that sometimes, a grumpy and predictable bear is exactly what you need.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Counting has never been this hilariously frustrating! Follow along with one very grumpy bear named Bruce as his quiet day is completely ruined by a growing number of uninvited guests. First come the skunks, then the mice who decide to throw a wild party, and the guest list just keeps getting longer and longer. As you count your way through the pages, you will watch Bruce lose his patience with every new animal that crowds into his home. This laugh-out-loud counting adventure is filled with silly characters and non-stop chaos, making it the perfect way to practice your numbers while enjoying a wonderfully funny story.
6-8 Years
24 Pages
Bruce the bear just wants a few moments of peace and quiet, but his energetic little goslings have a completely different plan. They are ready for a fun game of hide and seek, and they are determined to find their grumpy bear father no matter where he tries to hide! You get to join the hunt as you search for Bruce across every single page. Look closely behind the trees, inside the den, and anywhere else a large, unhappy bear might try to squeeze himself into. This interactive adventure is packed with silly hiding spots and delightful surprises that will keep you guessing and giggling as you try to track down the forest's grumpiest resident.
6-8 Years
24 Pages
Spring has finally arrived in the forest, and Ruth the cheerful rabbit could not be happier. She loves the beautiful blooming flowers, the fresh green grass, and all the wonderful smells the season brings. She is determined to share her joy with Bruce the bear, dragging him along to sniff every single delightful scent they can find. There is just one big problem: Bruce does not think spring smells wonderful at all. In fact, he thinks spring stinks! Follow this hilarious duo as they explore the forest and discover that not everyone appreciates the same things. It is a wonderfully silly adventure that will have you laughing at Bruce's grumpy reactions to the great outdoors.
6-8 Years
28 Pages
Winter has covered Soggy Hollow in a beautiful blanket of white snow, and the energetic mice are taking full advantage of the weather. They are outside building snow families, ski jumping, and ice skating all day long. But Bruce the bear is stuck inside feeling miserable with a bad winter cold. Because the mice love their grumpy bear friend so much, they decide to do something incredibly thoughtful and completely disastrous: they bring all the winter fun right inside the house! Get ready for a hilarious mess as the mice try to cheer Bruce up with indoor snowball fights and slippery ice. This funny winter story proves that good friends will do absolutely anything to make you feel better.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Bruce the bear already shares his cramped home with a noisy family of geese and mice, and he really does not want any more roommates. But when a massive, howling storm suddenly hits the forest, the rest of the woodland animals find themselves shivering out in the rain. One by one, they come knocking on Bruce's door looking for a safe and dry place to wait out the bad weather. Even though he grumbles and complains, Bruce has to open his doors and let the giant crowd of wet animals inside. You will laugh out loud as this grumpy bear tries to maintain order in a house completely overflowing with unexpected guests during the wildest storm of the year.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Bruce the bear is at his absolute breaking point. His den is completely overrun by four honking geese and three incredibly rowdy mice who never seem to stop playing and causing chaos. Desperate for a little peace and quiet, Bruce packs his bags and decides it is time to move to a brand new, completely rodent-free home. He travels across the wilderness hoping to find the perfect relaxing spot where he can finally be alone. But as Bruce soon discovers, moving away from your problems is never quite as simple as it seems. Follow along on this hilarious journey to see if a grumpy bear can ever truly escape the wild and crazy family that loves him.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Fall has arrived in Soggy Hollow, and the mice are feeling incredibly thankful for everything around them. But Bruce the bear is not feeling very thankful at all. In fact, he is quite tired of all this thanking! As the mice celebrate the autumn season with all their favorite fall activities, they try their hardest to get their grumpy bear friend to join in the fun. Will Bruce finally discover something to be thankful for, or will he just remain his usual grumpy self? This hilarious story is perfect for anyone who loves autumn, silly animal antics, and a bear who just wants to be left alone.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
After a very long and exhausting migration trip down south, Bruce the bear just wants to return to his quiet den and sleep. But when he finally opens his front door, he is completely shocked to find that three sneaky mice have transformed his cozy home into a bustling woodland hotel! There is a wild possum pillow fight happening in the living room, a fox trying to trick guests in the kitchen, and a whole crew of sleepy critters hogging Bruce's own bed. No matter how loudly he growls, the entrepreneurial mice refuse to close their new business. Get ready for non-stop laughs as Bruce tries everything in his power to kick the guests out and reclaim his peaceful home.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
