May 15, 2023
Halloween? Bah, humbug! Everyone's favorite curmudgeonly bear, Bruce, is predictably irritated to find that his least favorite holiday, Halloween, is coming up. Tricks, treats, and visitors? Bruce is not impressed. His chosen family of mice and geese completely disagrees and, to inspire him, decides to dress up and act out a scary story ("The Legend of Soggy Hollow," featuring the Horseless Horseman), with our ursine protagonist in the role of schoolteacher Ichabod Bruce. Text bubbles and boxes further develop the story of these charming characters as they embark, albeit less than happily in the case of Bruce, on a performance that is dramatic, mysterious, and laugh-out-loud funny. Higgins' quirky sensibility is as comical and appealing as ever, and his illustrations are full of kid-friendly and engaging details. Bruce's unwilling foray into acting--which involves a meetup with a possible ghost and an attempt to escape the amorous moose playing his love interest--will have readers dissolving into giggles. They'll delight in the humor of Bruce's less-than-enthusiastic participation, and the story wraps up with a ghostly--but fun--twist. This is a feel-good and funny choice, perfect for Halloween or any time of the year. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Laughter abounds in this spirited tale with a sprinkle of spookiness. (Picture book. 3-8)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
June 16, 2023
K-Gr 3-The latest title in Higgins's beloved "Mother Bruce" series is a Halloween-centric, spooky story for fans of Bruce and his forest friends. Bruce is not a big holiday enthusiast, and that includes Halloween. To drum up Bruce's excitement, the mice decide to act out "The Legend of Soggy Hollow" for all their forest friends. The scariest elements of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" are toned down; "The Horseless Horseman of Soggy Hollow" is a pumpkin-headed figure looking for his lost horse. The mice employ Bruce to star in their reenactment as Ichabod Bruce, the new schoolmaster. In colonial costume and headpiece, Bruce rides his trusty rocking horse to propose to the lovely Miss van Moofle, played by the moose Camilla. Play-acting becomes too real for Ichabod Bruce, who flees the scene before Miss van Moofle can get a kiss. In the ensuring chase, Bruce and Camilla come in contact with the real supernatural spirit of the Horseless Horseman, though neither realizes it at the time. Bruce abandons the rocking horse in the end, much to the Horseless Horseman's delight; Camilla gets a Bruce-hug; and all the forest animals receive candy from the upturned treat pumpkin Bruce collides with head-on. This book requires familiarity with the series for readers to appreciate it fully, e.g., Bruce's grumpy nature and his relationship with the mice and other forest animals. VERDICT An excellent addition to shelves with an established "Mother Bruce" collection.-Jennifer LaBurre
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2023
Bruce the bear's family of mice and geese tries to get him in the Halloween mood by acting out "The Legend of Soggy Hollow." Mouse Nibbs is the Horseless Horseman (complete with jack-o'-lantern head) and reluctant Bruce plays protagonist "Icky Bob." A romantic scene with Camilla the moose sends him fleeing from her into the forest...alongside the real Horseless Horseman of Soggy Hollow. This tongue-in-cheek retelling of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is cleverly faithful to the source material and an excellent addition to the Mother Bruce series. Amusing speech-bubble dialogue, animated character reactions, and seasonally hued action-packed panels help build Higgins's story to a spirited ending for all involved, including readers. Cynthia K. Ritter
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2024
Bruce the bear's family of mice and geese tries to get him in the Halloween mood by acting out "The Legend of Soggy Hollow." Mouse Nibbs is the Horseless Horseman (complete with jack-o'-lantern head) and reluctant Bruce plays protagonist "Icky Bob." A romantic scene with Camilla the moose sends him fleeing from her into the forest...alongside the real Horseless Horseman of Soggy Hollow. This tongue-in-cheek retelling of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is cleverly faithful to the source material and an excellent addition to the Mother Bruce series. Amusing speech-bubble dialogue, animated character reactions, and seasonally hued action-packed panels help build Higgins's story to a spirited ending for all involved, including readers.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)