Out Cold

Mother Bruce

by Ryan T. Higgins

It’s wintertime in Soggy Hollow and the mice are doing all their favorite outdoor things, like ski jumping, building a snow family, and ice skating. But not Bruce. He’s inside with a cold. So the mice decide to bring the winter fun indoors! Lucky Bruce!

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The more Bruce books I read, the more I realize Ryan T. Higgins is utterly exhausted by his three children.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Bruce can't catch a break...love these characters/this series. :)

[Sierra Dertinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I laughed so many times! Another great Bruce book that is the perfect winter read.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce is stuck inside with a cold, but the mice don't want him to miss out on any of the winter activities. They have the brilliant idea to bring snowmen, ice skating, and ski jumping inside so Bruce doesn't miss out.

Absolutely hilarious. And we expect nothing less from the comic genius, Ryan T. Higgins. For the kids tempted to sled down the stairs, this may need to come with some strong warnings not to try anything the mice do in this book. You do have to love their creativity and caring hearts, though. Even if Bruce might prefer some peace and quiet to ice skating in the bathroom. 🤣

[P.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the “small” Bruce books, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Poor Bruce, even when sick his words are misunderstood by the self-centered mice, but in the end, they somehow come through to show how much they love him. This book will be donated to St. Joseph’s School in Chehalis, WA.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce has a cold and isn't feeling well, so the mice try to help him feel better... except they are the mice, so, you know. I haven't liked the Little Bruce books much compared to the regular ones, but this was funny and true to form.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

the mice are too cute. who knew i would say that??! LOL!! as a kid i picked up an field mouse and had to show my mom, she about died, kidding!! but my mom doesn't like mice, and other critters. i just enjoy creative critters. snakes from afar behind glass ...not tripping over them. no thanks there. so cute, those mice. great illustrations. i got this from Amazon (the kindle copies were nuts in the price dept so i got a hardback copy.) funny things is the other 2 i have read "Mother Bruce" & "Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow" and they are like the size of my lap ... so a longer style book ...this is like maybe the size of my hand. curious how they did decide what to do? right? i am curious. aren't you? this series is so awesome. i love it. if you have kids you need this series in your collection. asap, now ... please don't wait. so so cute and great read. waiting on Santa Bruce & Hotel Bruce to arrive. yet to get any more so far. we will see.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: It is wintertime in Soggy Hollow, and there are lots of fun things to do outside. But Bruce is not outside. He is inside. With a cold. The mice are inside, too. But not for long. "It was so nice of Bruce to send us outside to play in the snow," says Nibbs.

Premise/plot: Bruce stars in this "little" picture book. This one is part of a much larger series. There are bigger picture books and littler ones. (Some of the books focus around seasons, holidays, occasions.) These are recurring characters that continue to delight.

My thoughts: READ THE WHOLE SERIES. Read them again again again. I absolutely love, love, love these characters. Bruce is so relatable. I imagine his "children" are as well. (The children being mice.) I love how expressive the illustrations are. These books such great fun.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah Snow. We got a break in the heat - it's much needed, but I'm ready for cooler weather.

Bruce here is sick during a snow storm. His kids won't leave him alone to rest and they torture him. Then they get sick and Bruce has to take care of them. It's that just like mom. Even when she's sick, she still has to work and take care of people.

I didn't think this one was a funny as normal. I just needed the snow buzz off it.

The artwork is the same stellar artwork. It's just perfect and cozy somehow and fits the humor Ryan is going for. I still enjoy these.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce is stuck inside with a cold and the mice kids are bouncing off the walls so he literally throws them out into the winter wonderland. When they feel that Bruce is missing all the fun, they decide to bring it inside to him, and fans of the series can guess what happens next. The read along version had an extra word from the text on page 12, text omitting the word ski from the jump scene (not that anyone would notice). Fun sound effects too.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Winter has come to Soggy Hollow. Poor Bruce has a cold and is stuck inside with his mice friends, Nibbs, Thistle, and Rupert. After playing outside, the mice thought it would be nice to bring the snow activities inside for Bruce to enjoy. I wonder if Bruce will enjoy them...

Comments: What can I say? I love the humor of grumpy Bruce. He reminds me so much of myself.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's winter time and there's so much snow outside, but Bruce is sick with a cold. The three mice that live with him are too loud and Bruce kicks them out to play in the snow. But true to their character, whatever the mice do, they think of Bruce because they miss him. So comes forth their brilliant idea, that if Bruce can't come out to the snow, they'll take the snow to him!

Another funny story about Bruce and the antics of those mice that he patiently puts up with.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever short picture book about Bruce and his mice family. He is sick and they want him to experience the winter fun - so, they bring winter inside. Readers will love the humor of these interactions and appreciate the variety of ways to celebrate and disagree and still be family.

[Wade Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce and the mice are up to their usual shenanigans it Out Cold. This time the mice are thinking or poor Bruce who is holed up inside with a cold. The typical hijinks continues while the ever cranky Bruce takes things in stride while in the end things turn on the mice.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce is laid up 0n the couch with a cold. His little friends want to include him in their winter games. So they decide to bring the fun of winter’s snow, cold, and ice inside to cheer up Bruce. Does it work well? Eh, nope!

Cute book.

[Jocelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another funny entry in the Bruce series. In this one, the mice were a bit much. I was even grumpy at them.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, as someone who is suffering with a cold, I feel you, Bruce!!
This one made me laugh out loud. It's Bruce and the mice. Of course I laughed.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too cute!

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

[Y.Poston]

another cute winter addition

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the Mother Bruce books! Bruce is sick and his mice friends try to make him feel better by bringing the snow activities inside.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce has a cold and the mice decide to help. They are less than helpful as usual... but very funny.

[Kelly]

Very cute. I think it's simple enough that it should have just been a board book. We don't really need small versions of Mother Bruce books.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bruce and the mice, but this one felt a little too mean for my taste.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Bruce can't catch a break! Remarkably, this series is one that has still stayed charming, even with lots of iterations. Not all favorite characters can say the same.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce always makes me smile!

[Steph]

Turn/Level: B(1)/2.5

Winter, Getting a cold

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun Bruce book. I love this grumpy bear.

[GS Dachslove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small book size, but it could work for a small group

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce is feeling under the weather and the mice are sent outside to play in the snow and chaos ensues when they attempt to bring the snow inside.