Bruce McMillan (May 10, 1947- ) is a contemporary American author of children books, photo-illustrator and watercolor artist living in Shapleigh, Maine. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in Bangor, and Kennebunk, Maine. He received a degree in biology from the University of Maine."Natural Story Teller", Bangor Daily News, Nov. 3, 2001 In addition to his 45 children's books, seven of them set in Iceland, he has authored two books of humor, Punography, featured in Life magazine, and Punography Too. His interest in biology is often reflected in his books' topics. He has published three genres of children's picture books - concept books, nonfiction, and fiction. In 2006, he was honored by the Maine Library Association with the Katahdin Award honoring his outstanding body of work of children's literature in Maine.
McMillan's watercolor art has been in numerous juried shows in New England and Iceland. His 2018 Winter Olympics curling watercolors were a two-page feature in the Maine Sunday Telegram Arts Section. His watercolor Browns Head Light Vinalhaven was Best in Show at the Port Clyde (Maine) Art Gallery Third Annual Invitational 10 x 10 Show in 2017. His watercolors are in private collections in the US, Canada, Iceland, and Switzerland.
McMillan's most noted award-winning children's book is Nights of the Pufflings (1995), set on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. The story introduces a local children's tradition of rescuing young birds, pufflings (a name he coined), which take their first flight on August nights, some stranded in the village streets. The children then set them free at the beach at daytime. His books were the first photo-illustrated children's books ever featured on the covers of The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books (Nights of the Pufflings), The Horn Book Guide (Nights of the Pufflings), and Booklinks magazine (Mary Had a Little Lamb).
McMillan was honored with a permanent corner in the Springvale Public Library's Children's Room, The Bruce McMillan Corner, where nine of his original photo-illustrations from Grandfather's Trolley are on permanent display.
McMillan has taught writing, illustrating, and publishing children's picture books for the Professional Development division open to the public at the University of Southern Maine and the University of New Hampshire (where he taught for 40 years), with students successfully published by major US publishers. He has spoken at hundreds of schools and conferences in the US.
Several of McMillan's children's books were translated into other languages - Icelandic, German and Korean. Hand-colored original photo-illustrations from Grandfather's Trolley are in the public collections of the Mazza Collection, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio, Keene State College original children's art collection in Keene, New Hampshire, the Kennebunk Free Library in Kennebunk, Maine (his teen-years library), and the Springvale Public Library in Springvale, Maine (his adult-years library).
"My publishing success with books, creating those playful learning tools for children, as a writer, as a photographer, as a teacher, has its roots in the patient, almost invisible, nurturing from boy to adult of my wise father, Frank Harold McMillan, Jr." -Bruce McMillan, November 7, 2021
Bruce McMillan was twice married, Valeria Therese "Terry" Loughran McMillan, 1968-1985, and Lori Beth Evans, 1997-2001. He has one son, Brett Brownrigg McMillan (1969- ) and two grandsons, Finn (2002- ) and Teague (2004- ).
Children's books
How the Ladies Stopped the Wind, Houghton Mifflin, 2007 (illustrated by Gunnella) The Problem with Chickens, Houghton Mifflin, Salka, 2005 (illustrated by Gunnella) Going Fishing, Houghton Mifflin, Salka, 2005 Days of the Ducklings, Houghton Mifflin, 2001 Gletta the Foal, Cavendish, 1998 Salmon Summer, Houghton Mifflin, 1998 Wild Flamingos, Houghton Mifflin, 1997 My Horse of the North, Scholastic, 1997 The Picture that Mom Drew, Walker, 1997 - by Mallat and McMillan Jelly Beans for Sale, Scholastic, 1996 Grandfather's Trolley, Candlewick, 1995 Summer Ice: Life along the Antarctic Peninsula, Houghton Mifflin, 1995 Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme, Harcourt, 1995 Nights of the Pufflings, Houghton Mifflin, 1995 Sense Suspense: A Guessing Game for the Five Senses, Scholastic, 1994 Penguins at Home: Gentoos of Antarctica, Houghton Mifflin, 1993 A Beach for the Birds. Houghton Mifflin, 1993 Mouse Views: What the Class Pet Saw , Holiday House, 1993 Going on a Whale Watch, Scholastic, 1992 Beach Ball - Left Right, Holiday House, 1992 and Apple Island Books, 1998 The Baby Zoo, Scholastic, 1992 and Apple Island Books, 1998 Eating Fractions, Scholastic, 1991 Play Day: A Book of Terse Verse, Holiday House, 1991 and Apple Island Books, 1998 The Weather Sky, Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1991 One Two One Pair!, Scholastic, 1991 and Apple Island Books Mary Had a Little Lamb, Scholastic, 1990 and Apple Island Books, 1998 One Sun: A Book of Terse Verse, Holiday House, 1990 and Apple Island Books, 1998 Time To..., Scholastic, 1989 Everything Grows, Crown, 1989 Super, Super, Superwords, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1989 Fire Engine Shapes, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1988 Growing Colors, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1988 and Apple Island Books Dry or Wet?, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1988 Step by Step, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1987 and Apple Island Books, 1995 Becca Backward, Becca Frontward: A Book of Concept Pairs, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1986 Counting Wildflowers, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1986 Kitten Can..., Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1984 Here a Chick, There a Chick, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1983 Ghost Doll, Houghton Mifflin, 1983 and Apple Island Books, 1997 Puniddles, Houghton Mifflin, 1982 Making Sneakers, Houghton Mifflin, 1980 Apples: How They Grow, Houghton Mifflin, 1979 and Apple Island Books The Remarkable Riderless Runaway Tricycle, Houghton Mifflin, 1978 and Apple Island Books, 1978 The Alphabet Symphony, Greenwillow, 1977 and Apple Island Books, 1978 Finestkind o' Day: Lobstering in Maine, Lippincott, 1977 and DownEast, 1978
Humor books
Punography Too, Penguin Books, 1980 Punography, Penguin Books, 1978
Icelandic books (published in Iceland)
Puffins from the Other Side of Iceland, Salka, 2006 Postcards from the Other Side of Iceland: Where the Grass is Greener, Salka, 2006
Children's book awards American Library Association Notable booksJelly Beans for Sale, Nights of the Pufflings, Eating Fractions, One Sun, A Book of Terse Verse, Counting WildflowersSchool Library Journal starred reviewsThe Problem with Chickens, Wild Flamingos, Nights of the Pufflings, Sense Suspense, A Guessing Game for the Five Senses, Eating Fractions, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Time To..., Super, Super, Superwords, Dry or Wet?, Becca Backward, Becca Frontward, A Book of Concept Pairs, Counting Wildflowers, Here a Chick, There a ChickAmerican Library Association Booklist starred reviewsThe Picture that Mom Drew, Mouse Views, What the Class Pet Saw, Super, Super, Superwords, Growing Colors, Becca Backward, Becca Frontward, A Book of Concept PairsPublishers Weekly starred reviewThe Problem with ChickensKirkus pointer reviewA Beach for the Birds, Going on a Whale WatchThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred reviewsNights of the Pufflings, One Sun, A Book of Terse VerseScience Books and Films double-starred reviewsPuffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme, Penguins at Home, Gentoos of AntarcticaChildren's Book Committee, Bank Street College of Education starDays of the DucklingsThe Horn Book Guide triangle reviewDays of the Ducklings, Play Day, A Book of Terse VerseA Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the YearThe Problem with ChickensA New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book of the YearThe Problem with ChickensA John Burroughs Nature Book for Young Readers Certificate of CommendationA Beach for the BirdsAn Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers' Association / Children's Book CouncilWild Flamingos, Summer Ice, Life along the Antarctic Peninsula, Nights of the Pufflings, Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme, A Beach for the Birds, Going on a Whale Watch, The Baby Zoo, One Sun, A Book of Terse Verse, Becca Backward, Becca Frontward, A Book of Concept PairsA National Council for the Social Studies - Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade BookGoing FishingCertificate of Excellence, Parenting magazineNights of the Pufflings, One, Two - One Pair!, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Super, Super, SuperwordsA Best Kid's Book - Parents MagazineEating Fractions, Play Day, A Book of Terse Verse, One Sun, A Book of Terse Verse, Here a Chick, There a ChickA Best Book of the Year, School Library JournalNights of the Pufflings, Super, Super, SuperwordsA Best Kids' Book of the Year, Crayola Kids magazineNights of the PufflingsA Children's Book of Distinction, Hungry Mind ReviewNights of the PufflingsParents Choice Honor BookNights of the PufflingsAmerican Bookseller Association Pick of the ListWild Flamingos, Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme, Sense Suspense, A Guessing Game for the Five Senses, The Baby Zoo, Kitten Can..., Here a Chick, There a ChickA Blue Ribbon Book, The Bulletin for the Center of Children's BooksNights of the PufflingsA Lupine Honor Book - Maine Librarians' AssociationNights of the PufflingsA Few Good Books selection - Booklinks magazineNights of the PufflingsA Reading Rainbow review selectionMouse Views: What the Class Pet SawJunior Library Guild selectionsMouse Views, What the Class Pet Saw, Mary Had a Little Lamb, One Sun, A Book of Terse Verse, Here a Chick, There a ChickScientific American magazine Young Readers Book AwardThe Weather SkyParent's Guide Children's Media Award, Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction HonorSalmon SummerLibrary of Congress Children's Book of the YearThe Weather Sky, Kitten Can...The Original Art Exhibition jury selection, the Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration SelectionMary had a Little LambChildren's Editor's Choice, American Library Association BooklistGrowing ColorsA Parent's Choice Foundation Selection, Seal of ApprovalThe Problem with ChickensNew York Public Library 100 Best Books for Reading and SharingJelly Beans for Sale, Time To...Chicago Public Library's Best of the BestJelly Beans for Sale Book AwardsThe Problem with Chickens New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2005 Parents' Choice Approved Picture Book seal A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2005
Star Review - School Library Journal, 2005
Star Review - Publishers Weekly, 2005 Days of the Ducklings Parents' Choice Non-fiction, 2001 A Best Children's Book of the Year 2002, Children's Book Committee at the Bank Street College of Education
Star Review, Children's Book Committee Bank Street College of Education, 2002
Triangle Review, the Horn Book Guide, Spring 2002 Jelly Beans for Sale American Library Association Notable Book, 1997 New York Public Library 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing, 1996
Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best, 1996Puffins Climb, Penguins RhymeAmerican Bookseller Association Pick of the List, 1995 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children - National Science Teacher's Association / Children's Book Council, 1995
Two Star Review - Science Books and Films, 1995Nights of the PufflingsAmerican Library Association Notable Book, 1996 A Children's Book of Distinction - Hungry Mind Review, 1996 Parents' Choice Picture Book, 1995 Parenting magazine Certificate of Excellence, 1995 A Lupine Honor Book, Maine Librarians' Association, 1996
A Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal, 1995
A Best Kids' Book of the Year, Crayola Kids magazine, 1995
A Few Good Books selection, Booklinks magazine, 95
A Blue Ribbon Book, The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, 1995
Star Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 1995
Star Review, School Library Journal, 1995