Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is an author and illustrator who likes the outdoors and cheese sandwiches. He is NOT a grumpy old black bear, but he DOES like making books about one--starting with the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce , which received the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor. He also wrote and illustrated Hotel Bruce , BE QUIET! , Bruce's Big Move , We Don't Eat Our Classmates , Santa Bruce , and 1 Grumpy Bruce . Ryan lives in Maine with his wife and kids--where they have lots of big fun days together.