Mother Bruce

Bruce the bear is a grump. A solitary, egg-loving grump who likes his routines and his personal space. When his carefully planned hard-boiled goose egg breakfast hatches into actual, living, peeping goslings, his perfectly ordered world unravels in the most hilarious way possible.

What follows is pure comedic chaos. The goslings are convinced Bruce is their mother, and no amount of growling, eye-rolling, or strategic abandonment attempts can shake them loose. They waddle after him. They copy him. They adore him. And Bruce? Bruce just wants his eggs back.

Ryan T. Higgins delivers a brilliantly funny picture book that captures the reluctant caregiver experience with perfect pitch. The illustrations are expressive and charming, full of personality and sly humor that will have both kids and adults laughing out loud. Bruce’s exasperated expressions alone are worth the price of admission.

This is a wonderful read-aloud for families, especially those who appreciate stories about unexpected friendships, the chaos of caring for others, and bears who discover that maybe—just maybe—having a family isn’t the worst thing in the world. Perfect for young readers who love animals, laugh-out-loud humor, and characters who learn that being grumpy doesn’t mean you can’t also be loved.

Ideal for children ages 4-8, Mother Bruce is the kind of book that gets requested again and again. Fair warning: you might find yourself quoting Bruce’s deadpan reactions long after storytime ends.

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