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Featured books by

Bruce Degen

Reading Rockets recommends the following books by Bruce Degen.

Jamberry
Jamberry
By: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

A pot-bellied bear and a boy with an unruly mop of hair fill the pages of this playful, rhyming frolic as boy and bear look for berries of all sorts. The language is as bouncy as the detailed and energetic illustrations, making this a perfect read aloud.

Books illustrated by Bruce Degen

Commander Toad and the Space Pirates
Commander Toad and the Space Pirates
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Commander Toad and the crew of the Star Warts are back, this time to confront villainous space pirates. As in other Commander Toad books, puns and silliness are complemented by humorous illustrations.

Commander Toad in Space
Commander Toad in Space
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Sort-of-serious illustrations are perfect for this comical parody of familiar science fiction films. The brave commander of the Star Warts spacecraft is a Toad who saves his ship from the dangers of a watery planet and its resident monster, Deep Wader.

Jazzmatazz!
Jazzmatazz!
By: Stephanie Calmenson
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Words make music and it's sure apparent as the words and illustrations swirl and move around the pages of this lively and engaging book. Celebrate music and music-making when sharing this book aloud.

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
By: Nancy Carlstrom
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

A day in the life of a special little bear is vividly presented in an exuberant rhyming text and warm, full-color illustrations, in the first volume, in the popular series featuring the irrepressible Jesse Bear.

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
By: Nancy Carlstrom
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Jesse Bear starts his day by putting on a red shirt, but later wears sunlight, bubbles and more. Jaunty rhymes and effervescent illustrations present the child-like bear’s lively and engaging romp until it’s nighttime and Jesse Bear is in his pajamas.

Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
By: Joanna Cole
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

If only every child could have a teacher like Ms. Frizzle, every field trip would be unforgettable! Here, the kids get the inside scoop on hurricanes by going into its eye in their school bus (turned weather plane) to learn how hurricanes form and to experience their power. There's an extra bit of drama when Arnold becomes separated from the class, but is happily reunited.

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures:  Ancient Egypt
Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt
By: Joanna Cole
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Imagine traveling to Egypt with the well known and much loved teacher, Ms. Frizzle. Well, the kids join the Friz on a trip to Egypt finding them enmeshed in the goings-on of ancient Egypt – including mummification and building the pyramids. The intermingling of lively text and adroit illustration are well placed in the oversize format.

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China
Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China
By: Joanna Cole
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Ms. Frizzle, the amazing teacher whose students experience field trips in extraordinary fashion, now moves into history and other social studies areas. In this installment, Ms. Frizzle and her class travel by dragon to 11th century China to experience its history.

The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs
The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs
By: Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Everyone's favorite science teacher is back as Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a journey into the Mesozoic Era. The Magic School Bus becomes a time machine, giving the students a first-hand look at many dinosaurs and the eras in which they lived. The text and illustrations are blended in this amazing fact and trivia-filled field trip to the past.

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
By: Joanna Cole
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

The planetarium is closed for repairs, so the Magic School Bus blasts off on a real tour of the solar system. After their previous field trips, the children in Ms. Frizzle's class are rather blasé about landing on the Moon, Venus, and Mars. A first-class introduction to the planets, fine for pleasure or purpose reading.

Interested in wonderful interviews with tween and teen authors? Hop on over to our sister site, AdLit.org, and browse the library.

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