Ryan T. Higgins is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his Mother Bruce and Penelope Rex series, both of which have had a book on The New York Times Best Seller List[1][2] and have won the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books.[3][4]
Ryan T. Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Author and illustrator |
| Genre | Children's books |
| Notable awards | The E.B. White Read Aloud Award (2016, 2019) |
| Website | |
| ryanthiggins | |
Biography
editHiggins graduated from the College of the Atlantic in 2006.[5] He is married and has three children.[6] As of 2021, he lives in Maine.[7]
Influences
editHiggins was greatly inspired by Calvin and Hobbes comics when he was younger and initially wanted to become a comic writer; however, after seeing Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! at a friend's home, he became intrigued by the genre.[6] He was inspired to write We Don't Eat Our Classmates when his son was preparing for kindergarten.[6]
Awards and honors
editMother Bruce was a New York Times bestseller.[1] Kirkus Reviews included it on their list of the best children's books of 2015.[1]
We Don't Eat Our Classmates was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller.[2] Kirkus Reviews included it on their list of the best children's books of 2018.[2]
What About Worms?! was a 2021 ALSC Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers.[8][9]
| Year | Title | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mother Bruce | E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books | Winner | [3][10] |
| Ezra Jack Keats Book Award for Illustrator | Honoree | [11] | ||
| 2017 | Be Quiet! | Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books | Nominee | [12] |
| 2018 | We Don't Eat Our Classmates | Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books | Nominee | [13] |
| 2018–2019 | Mother Bruce | California Young Reader Medal for Primary | Nominee | [14] |
| 2019 | We Don't Eat Our Classmates | Bank Street College of Education Cook Prize | Honoree | [15] |
| Charlotte Zolotow Award | Commended | [16] | ||
| E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books | Winner | [4][17] | ||
| Irma Black Award | Finalist | [18][19] | ||
| 2020 | We Will Rock Our Classmates | Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books | Nominee | [20] |
| 2021 | What About Worms?! | Geisel Award | Honoree | [21][22][23] |
| 2023 | Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book | Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers | Nominee | [24] |
| We Don't Eat Our Classmates | California Young Reader Medal for Primary | Winner | [25] |
Publications
editMother Bruce series
edit- Mother Bruce (2015)
- Hotel Bruce (2016)
- Bruce's Big Move (2017)
- Santa Bruce (2018)
- 1 Grumpy Bruce (2019)
- Bruce's Big Fun Day (2019)
- Bruce's Big Storm (2019)
- Peek-a-Bruce (2019)
- The Bruce Swap (2021)
- Thanks for Nothing (2021)
- Spring Stinks (2021)
- Ballet Bruce (2022)
- Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book (2022)
Penelope Rex series
edit- We Don't Eat Our Classmates (2018)
- We Will Rock Our Classmates (2020)
- We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish (2023)
- Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets (2024)
Stand alone books
edit- Twaddleton's Cheese (2008)
- Roger Goes Up (2012)
- Wilfred (2013)
- This Book Does Not Have Words (2014)
- Be Quiet! (2017)
- What About Worms!? (2020)
- Norman Didn't Do It! (Yes He Did) (2021)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mother Bruce". Kirkus Reviews. 2015-08-25. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b c "We Don't Eat Our Classmates". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-05-13. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b Jarrard, Sydney (2016-04-13). "2018 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^ a b Button, Liz (2019-05-01). "2019 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ "COA Alumni: Ryan T. Higgins". College of the Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ a b c "T. Rex Problems: Spotlight on Ryan T. Higgins". Publishers Weekly. 2018-06-15. Archived from the original on 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Morse, Libby (2021-09-02). "Four Questions for Ryan T. Higgins". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "2021 Notable Children's Books". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 2022-01-25. Archived from the original on 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2021-03-30). "ALSC names 2021 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "ABA Names Indies Choice, E.B. White Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2016-04-14. Archived from the original on 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "2016 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winners". The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "Be Quiet!". Goodreads. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "We Don't Eat Our Classmates (Penelope Rex, #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "Nominees". California Young Reader Medal. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Yorio, Kara (2019-04-22). "Cook Prize and Irma Black Award Announced". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "Booklists". Cooperative Children's Book Center. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "Awards: Indies Choice Book & E.B. White Read-Aloud". Shelf Awareness. 2019-05-07. Archived from the original on 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "Awards: Irma Black Finalist". Shelf Awareness. 2019-02-28. Archived from the original on 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Burnett, Matia (2019-05-21). "Honoring Excellence at Bank Street: The 2019 Cook Prize and Irma S. and James H. Black Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "We Will Rock Our Classmates". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Morales, Macey (2021-01-25). "David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka win Geisel Award for 'See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog'". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ "2021 Youth Media Awards". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma (2021-01-25). "Keller, Goade, Nayeri Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". PublishersWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "Eisner Awards Current Info". Comic-Con International: San Diego. 2014-12-17. Archived from the original on 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ "CYRM Winners, Complete List" (PDF). California Young Reader Medal. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
External links
edit- Ryan T. Higgins Talks with Roger (2017 Horn Book interview)
- Q & A with Ryan T. Higgins (2018 Publishers Weekly interview)
- Close-Up on: Ryan T. Higgins (2022 Publishers Weekly interview)