{{Short description|American author of children's books}} {{Infobox author | website = {{URL|ryanthiggins.com}} | nationality = | occupation = Author and illustrator | genre = Children's books | awards = The E.B. White Read Aloud Award (2016, 2019) }}
'''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<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2015-08-25 |title=Mother Bruce |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ryan-t-higgins/mother-bruce/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Kirkus Reviews |archive-date=2022-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303062913/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ryan-t-higgins/mother-bruce/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2018-05-13 |title=We Don't Eat Our Classmates |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ryan-t-higgins/we-dont-eat-our-classmates/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Kirkus Reviews |archive-date=2022-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207224648/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ryan-t-higgins/we-dont-eat-our-classmates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and have won the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Jarrard |first=Sydney |date=2016-04-13 |title=2018 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced |url=http://www.bookweb.org/news/2018-indies-choice-and-eb-white-read-aloud-award-winners-announced-104285 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514015114/http://www.bookweb.org/news/2018-indies-choice-and-eb-white-read-aloud-award-winners-announced-104285 |archive-date=2018-05-14 |access-date=2017-02-02 |newspaper=American Booksellers Association}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Button |first=Liz |date=2019-05-01 |title=2019 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.bookweb.org/news/2019-indies-choice-and-eb-white-read-aloud-award-winners-announced-572095 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226014052/https://www.bookweb.org/news/2019-indies-choice-and-eb-white-read-aloud-award-winners-announced-572095 |archive-date=2022-12-26 |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=American Booksellers Association}}</ref>
== Biography == Higgins graduated from the College of the Atlantic in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COA Alumni: Ryan T. Higgins |url=https://www.coa.edu/live/profiles/3631-ryan-higgins |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=College of the Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=2021-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129101934/https://www.coa.edu/live/profiles/3631-ryan-higgins |url-status=live }}</ref> He is married and has three children.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2018-06-15 |title=T. Rex Problems: Spotlight on Ryan T. Higgins |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/77263-t-rex-problems-spotlight-on-ryan-t-higgins.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520131321/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/77263-t-rex-problems-spotlight-on-ryan-t-higgins.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2021, he lives in Maine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Libby |date=2021-09-02 |title=Four Questions for Ryan T. Higgins |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/87272-four-questions-for-ryan-t-higgins.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209200149/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/87272-four-questions-for-ryan-t-higgins.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== 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.<ref name=":3" /> He was inspired to write ''We Don't Eat Our Classmates'' when his son was preparing for kindergarten.<ref name=":3" />
== Awards and honors == ''Mother Bruce'' was a ''New York Times'' bestseller.<ref name=":1" /> ''Kirkus Reviews'' included it on their list of the best children's books of 2015.<ref name=":1" />
''We Don't Eat Our Classmates'' was a ''New York Times'' and IndieBound bestseller.<ref name=":2" /> ''Kirkus Reviews'' included it on their list of the best children's books of 2018.<ref name=":2" />
''What About Worms?!'' was a 2021 ALSC Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-01-25 |title=2021 Notable Children's Books |url=https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/ncbpastlists/ncb_2021 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313061751/https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/ncbpastlists/ncb_2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulte-Cooper |first=Laura |date=2021-03-30 |title=ALSC names 2021 Notable Children's Books |url=https://www.ala.org/news/2011/10/alsc-names-2021-notable-childrens-books |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201013437/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/03/alsc-names-2021-notable-childrens-books |archive-date=2022-02-01 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=American Library Association |language=en}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" |+Awards !Year !Title !Award !Result !Ref. |- ! rowspan="2" |2016 | rowspan="2" |''Mother Bruce'' |E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books |'''Winner''' |<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-04-14 |title=ABA Names Indies Choice, E.B. White Winners |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2732 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216114033/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2732 |archive-date=2022-12-16 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Shelf Awareness}}</ref> |- |Ezra Jack Keats Book Award for Illustrator |Honoree |<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winners |url=https://www.ejkf.org/2016-ejk-award/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315130145/https://www.ejkf.org/2016-ejk-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2017 |''Be Quiet!'' |Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books |Nominee |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Be Quiet! |url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/31423547-be-quiet |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Goodreads |language=en}}</ref> |- !2018 |''We Don't Eat Our Classmates'' |Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books |Nominee |<ref>{{Cite book |title=We Don't Eat Our Classmates (Penelope Rex, #1) |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36341954-we-don-t-eat-our-classmates |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Goodreads |isbn=978-1-368-00355-1 |language=en}}</ref> |- !2018–2019 |''Mother Bruce'' |California Young Reader Medal for Primary |Nominee |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nominees |url=http://www.californiayoungreadermedal.org/nominees |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=California Young Reader Medal |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410150601/http://www.californiayoungreadermedal.org/nominees |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! rowspan="4" |2019 | rowspan="4" |''We Don't Eat Our Classmates'' |Bank Street College of Education Cook Prize |Honoree |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yorio |first=Kara |date=2019-04-22 |title=Cook Prize and Irma Black Award Announced |url=https://www.slj.com/story/cook-prize-and-irma-black-award-announced |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref> |- |Charlotte Zolotow Award |Commended |<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Booklists |url=https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/booklists/?booklistId=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930170027/https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/booklists/?booklistId=3 |archive-date=2022-09-30 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Cooperative Children's Book Center |publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison}}</ref> |- |E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books |'''Winner''' |<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-07 |title=Awards: Indies Choice Book & E.B. White Read-Aloud |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3489 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018081149/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3489 |archive-date=2022-10-18 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Shelf Awareness}}</ref> |- |Irma Black Award |Finalist |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-02-28 |title=Awards: Irma Black Finalist |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3441 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224195420/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3441 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnett |first=Matia |date=2019-05-21 |title=Honoring Excellence at Bank Street: The 2019 Cook Prize and Irma S. and James H. Black Awards |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/80124-honoring-excellence-at-bank-street-the-2019-cook-prize-and-irma-s-and-james-h-black-awards.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811211403/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/80124-honoring-excellence-at-bank-street-the-2019-cook-prize-and-irma-s-and-james-h-black-awards.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2020 |''We Will Rock Our Classmates'' |Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Books |Nominee |<ref>{{Cite book |title=We Will Rock Our Classmates |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48932414-we-will-rock-our-classmates |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Goodreads |isbn=978-1-368-05959-6 |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510150325/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48932414-we-will-rock-our-classmates |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2021 |''What About Worms?!'' |Geisel Award |Honoree |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morales |first=Macey |date=2021-01-25 |title=David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka win Geisel Award for 'See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog' |url=https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/david-larochelle-mike-wohnoutka-win-geisel-award-see-cat-three-stories-about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601143727/http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/david-larochelle-mike-wohnoutka-win-geisel-award-see-cat-three-stories-about |archive-date=2021-06-01 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=American Library Association |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Youth Media Awards |url=https://www.slj.com/page/2021YouthMediaAwards |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=School Library Journal |archive-date=2023-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413060404/https://www.slj.com/page/2021YouthMediaAwards |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Roback |first1=Diane |last2=Kantor |first2=Emma |date=2021-01-25 |title=Keller, Goade, Nayeri Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85396-keller-goade-nayeri-win-newbery-caldecott-printz-awards.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116213633/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85396-keller-goade-nayeri-win-newbery-caldecott-printz-awards.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! rowspan="2" |2023 |''Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book'' |Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers |Nominee |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-17 |title=Eisner Awards Current Info |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607093909/https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info |archive-date=2017-06-07 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Comic-Con International: San Diego |language=en}}</ref> |- |''We Don't Eat Our Classmates'' |California Young Reader Medal for Primary |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{Cite web |title=CYRM Winners, Complete List |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/533e5b23e4b089b274abbdc9/t/64d65680806e3d751cf703dc/1691768448903/CYRM+Winners%2C+Complete+List.pdf |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=California Young Reader Medal |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
== 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 == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.hbook.com/story/ryan-t-higgins-talks-roger Ryan T. Higgins Talks with Roger] (2017 ''Horn Book'' interview) * [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/77167-q-a-with-ryan-t-higgins.html Q & A with Ryan T. Higgins] (2018 ''Publishers Weekly'' interview) * [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/89482-close-up-on-ryan-t-higgins.html Close-Up on: Ryan T. Higgins] (2022 ''Publishers Weekly'' interview)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, Ryan T.}} Category:Living people Category:College of the Atlantic alumni Category:American children's book illustrators Category:Writers from Maine Category:21st-century American writers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)