When the geese ask him for assistance with getting new ballet gear, Bruce the ever-grumpy bear agrees to help his friends get ready to stretch their wings and follow their dream of dancing! 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

Bruce, the ever-grumpy bear, helps the geese prepare for ballet in this book perfect for readers
who are ready to stretch their wings.

The geese want to do ballet! But first they will need a lot of gear. They will need Bruce's help to get it. Do Bruce and the geese have what it takes to get ready for ballet?

Ryan Higgins's trademark humor, distinctive art, and lovable characters capture the spirit of the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce picture book series while helping young readers move from listening to read alouds to reading on their own.



- (Grand Central Pub)

Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator of 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; Hotel Bruce; BE QUIET!; and Bruce's Big Move. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids and lots of pets.

Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator of 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; Hotel Bruce; BE QUIET!; and Bruce's Big Move. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids and lots of pets. - (Grand Central Pub)

Kirkus Reviews

Bruce helps the geese get ready to learn ballet in this new early reader installment. Inspired by a poster of Swan Lake (with a swan as the ballerina), the geese decide they want to dance. Will Bruce help? Bruce, who is comfortably sitting and reading The Art of Sitting and Doing Nothing, does not want to. But the geese give him "sad goose eyes." Even curmudgeonly Bruce can't resist those. So he hops on his motorcycle to go to the store to buy ballet shoes. But the ride to and from town is filled with challenges (who dropped nails in the road?). Once Bruce finally gets home, the geese realize they also need "fancy dance pants." So Bruce goes to the store once again. Poor Bruce rides to town multiple times as the geese think of more and more ballet necessities. Bruce becomes increasingly bedraggled with each trip. Then, in an abrupt turn of events, the geese suddenly have a new idea. Higgins' rich, textured illustrations are as appealing as ever. The winks and nods toward adults who deal with children's fickleness every day are a bit lost in an independent reader format, but the ride is still a fun one to take. Silliness and frustration abound. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Graceful pirouettes can be found elsewhere; giggles take the stage here. (Early reader. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus 2022 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—Mother Bruce is back in the form of an easy reader that young children can utilize to start reading about Bruce's adventures on their own. The geese whom Bruce never intended to "Mother" are now his responsibility, and today they decide they are ready to try ballet. Grumpy bear Bruce is trying to rest in his chair when the sad goose eyes hit him, and he gives in. The geese tell him that in order to participate in ballet, they will need shoes. Bruce diligently gets on his motorcycle and goes to get them shoes. When he returns with the shoes, the geese demand fancy dance pants, and out goes Bruce again. This continues over and over; Bruce has to continually ride into and out of town, while dealing with tons of construction and traffic. After gathering all of the necessary items and thinking that maybe he can rest, the geese decide they want to take a ride with Bruce. Simple text and repetitive words and phrases, coupled with the usual delightful illustrations of Bruce and the geese, create a comedic and fun reader for the preschool to primary school age group. This book will be a favorite for those who have been following the "Bruce" series, and still loved by those who haven't yet met this bear-goose family. VERDICT Recommended for purchase for any library collection.—Kristen Todd-Wurm