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 and have won the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books.
Biography Higgins graduated from the College of the Atlantic in 2006. He is married and has three children. As of 2021, he lives in Maine.
Influences Higgins 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. He was inspired to write We Don't Eat Our Classmates when his son was preparing for kindergarten.
Awards and honors Mother Bruce was a New York Times bestseller. Kirkus Reviews included it on their list of the best children's books of 2015.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. Kirkus Reviews included it on their list of the best children's books of 2018.
What About Worms?! was a 2021 ALSC Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers. +AwardsYearTitleAwardResultRef.2016Mother BruceE.B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture BooksWinnerEzra Jack Keats Book Award for IllustratorHonoree2017Be Quiet!Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books Nominee2018We Don't Eat Our ClassmatesGoodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books Nominee2018–2019Mother BruceCalifornia Young Reader Medal for PrimaryNominee2019We Don't Eat Our ClassmatesBank Street College of Education Cook PrizeHonoreeCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommendedE. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture BooksWinnerIrma Black AwardFinalist2020We Will Rock Our ClassmatesGoodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books Nominee2021What About Worms?!Geisel AwardHonoree2023Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive BookEisner Award for Best Publication for Early ReadersNomineeWe Don't Eat Our ClassmatesCalifornia Young Reader Medal for PrimaryWinner
Publications
Mother Bruce series
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
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) “Bundle up, Penelope Rex” (2025)
Stand alone books
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
External links
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)