Remembering Bruce Degen

Bruce is best known as illustrator of the Magic School Bus series written by Joanna Cole, the Jesse Bear books written by Nancy White Carlston, and the Commander Toad series by Jane Yolen. In total he either illustrated or wrote and illustrated more than 40 books. Perhaps the best-known book he both wrote and illustrated was the classic Jamberry.

A graduate of Pratt Institute he worked in advertising and printmaking before settling in with his true love, children’s book illustration. 

Despite his busy schedule he always seemed to find time for school visits where he entertained and inspired his young readers. And we in the SCBWI were fortunate and blessed to have had him as a speaker, an instructor, a keynoter and a treasured colleague at numerous conferences throughout the years.

In a Wikipedia profile he said that humor is one of his key values, which he expressed by comparing children’s illustrations with the fine arts. “You don’t see many people walking around a gallery chuckling. And I realized that I wanted a chuckle.” He achieved that, and so very much more, and he is tremendously missed by his readers and by all those he touched through his art, his wit, and yes, his enduring humor.

Paul Zelinsky, SCBWI Advisory Council member and longtime friend of the Degens, says “not everyone knows that before Bruce began illustrating, he was a successful high school art teacher in the New York City public schools. Before that, one of his jobs was painting sets for the Metropolitan Opera. He was endlessly kind, smart and funny, had a close, loving family (both of his sons are gifted artists) and I hope his books live forever.”

Lin Oliver, SCBWI Co-founder and current SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Director, in her remembrance adds, “Bruce leaves behind a legacy of joyful and beloved books engrained in the collective memory of several generations of families. When I think of him, I will always remember the utter pleasure of reading Jamberry over and over and over with my children and then their children. And I loved it every time.”