Bruce Degen

Bruce Degen ( ;

He attended elementary school in Brooklyn; one of the teachers let him paint during lessons. He went on to attend art schools in Manhattan, including LaGuardia High School, where a teacher encouraged him to study at Cooper Union. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Cooper Union.

Career Degen's working life has included designing advertisements, teaching art, making prints, painting scenery for opera productions, and directing a lithography studio in Israel.

From the 1960s to the late 1980s, Degen taught art in public schools of New York City and worked as a freelance artist and illustrator on the side.

In the mid-1980s, he became the illustrator for The Magic School Bus book series written by Joanna Cole.

Bruce and Christine Degen contributed "Gifts to the Garden" for the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

They sat as appointed members of the Newtown, Connecticut, Hattertown Historic District Commission.

Selected works Degen poses in front of two of his artworks on display in the Mazza Museum. Credited authors are the writers of books illustrated by Degen. Aunt Possum and the Pumpkin Man (1977) Forecast by Malcolm Hall (1977; 1st UK edition published by World's Work, 1979). A Big Day for Scepters by Stephen Krensky (1977) Ig Lives in a Cave by Carol Chapman (1979) Brimhall Turns to Magic by Judy Delton (1979) Mr. Jameson and Mr. Phillips by Marjorie W. Sharmat (1979) Commander Toad series, written by Jane Yolen (1980–1997) The Forgetful Bears Help Santa by Larry Weinberg (1988) Lion and Lamb by William H. Hooks and Barbara Brenner (1989) Dinosaur Dances by Jane Yolen (1990) Lion and Lamb Step Out by William H. Hooks and Barbara Brenner (1990) Teddy Bear Towers (1991) Goblin Walk by Tony Johnston (1991) Ups and Downs with Lion and Lamb by William H. Hooks and Barbara Brenner (1991) Little Chick's Friend, Duckling by Mary DeBall Kwitz (1992) Mouse's Birthday by Jane Yolen (1993) A Beautiful Feast for a Big King Cat by John Archambault (1994) Will You Give Me a Dream? by Joan Lowery Nixon (1994) Sailaway Home (1999) Daddy Is a Doodlebug (2000) I Gotta Draw (2012) I Said, "Bed!" (2014) Snow Joke (2014) Nate Likes to Skate (2016)