Mother Goose Bruce
by Ryan T. Higgins
48 pages – ages 3+
Published by Disney-Hyperion on November 24, 2015
Theme- Family/adoption
Genre- Fiction
Opening and Synopsis- Opening Lines:
“Bruce was a bear who lived all by himself.
He was a grump.”
Synopsis from GoodReads: “Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?“
What I Thought- I LOVED this book. The opening is great – Bruce is a grump – just look at him. Everything about Higgins’ artwork lets you know how grumpy Bruce is.
Speaking of the artwork, it is phenomenal! It tells so much more of the story and really conveys the feeling of the whole book. I love how the look of Bruce stays grumpy throughout the whole book, even as his character softens in the story.
I also like how the goslings don’t seem to care about their “mommy’s” bad disposition. The story isn’t really about a grumpy bear but more so about family. Being an adopted kid myself, I think it is a nice kind of adoption story too. It is a sweet story that says it doesn’t mater how you came together or what you look like, you are still a family.
Activities and Resources-
Bruce loves to cook so how about cooking something up with Bruce? The Kid Spot blog has some egg recipes that kids can cook. Click HERE to get them.
You can search the internet or better yet your library for books and news articles on animals adopting animals of a different species. HERE is a nice article at TheDodo.com that shows some pretty unusual parings – a tortoise and a hippo???
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!
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Categories: Age 1-5
Look really lovely! This bear is a hero… Serenity :-)claudine
It’s a nice book! 😀
I can’t wait to read this book. It sounds hysterical. Great review, Erik!
I really liked it! 😀
Hilarious and moving at the same time! LOVE this artwork.
It was done really well! 🙂
Love the cover and illustrations! This is a very entertaining book! I love how the goslings soften the bear! Great that it can be used with kids who are adopted.
It is a marvelous book! 😀
I am completely won over by those emotional, colorful, humorous illustrations. This book is on my library list for the week. That’s a promise!
I hope you find it – it’s a good book! 🙂
What a fun character. I love the blue/black and his permanently moody expression.
He’s a funny bear! 😀
I have this one on my tbr list, and I’m so excited to read it. It looks wonderfully funny 🙂
It is all that – and more! 🙂
OOOH! You are right! The illustrations look fabulous. Really love them.
It’s a great book! 😀
I REALLY like this book!
Isn’t it great! 😀
Dang – you beat me to it! REALLY like this book! Thanks for the recipes link.
It’s fabulous, right?
Yessssssssss!
I expected to enjoy this, but ADORED IT! Bruce is the bear you should find in a dictionary when looking up the word CURMUDGEON, and kids would love learning that word. What a great way to suggest they view someone chronically grumpy- just their nature, nothing to take personally. It is also an ideal PB to use with older kids who are learning about IMPRINTING, and they’ll crack up! (Quake up?) Thanks for featuring it, Erik.
You are exactly right! 🙂
Bear book! Bear book! This one looks great :)!
You would love it – it’s got food as well! 😀
This #PPBF selection is off to a great bear start. I love the illustrations as well.
It’s great! 🙂
I´ve heard of this book. It looks delightful. I also just love the illustrations!
It’s a great one! 😀
Sweet! I think I would love this book. I hope Mom gets it for me. The geese in my field leave me candies in the grass. Mom says it’s disgusting. I’m pretty sure that means delicious…
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Yes… I’m… Sure. 😉
What a delightful book! Definitely one to get for my granddaughter. 🙂
Thanks!
She would probably love it! 🙂
I heard about this book well before it came out and just knew it would become BEARY popular. What’s not to love? Great review, Erik!
It’s a great story! 😀 Thanks! 🙂
Hope your holidays were good! i just read this book. Loved it!!!! A common theme in PBs but so fresh and original. loved the humor!
It was done really well! I liked it when Bruce went “shopping” 😉
yah, i liked that too. 🙂
🙂
I’m really looking forward to reading this. I have it on hold 😀
Thanks for the great review!
It’s a hilarious book! 😀