Bruce Degen, the illustrator behind the popular Magic School Bus children’s books, has sadly passed away at the age of 79. He died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Newtown, Connecticut, on November 7, as reported by Parade.
Degen, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, had a long and successful career in art. He studied at the High School of Art & Music in New York City and went on to earn degrees from prestigious institutions like Cooper Union and Pratt Institute. Before becoming known for his children’s book illustrations, he worked as an art teacher.
In a 2020 interview with Science.org, Degen shared that he initially struggled with his artistic path but found his true calling in children’s books. He realized that the combination of humor and beauty in children’s literature was what inspired him.
Degen’s artwork graced many beloved children’s books, including Jamberry in 1982. However, he is best known for his collaboration with writer Joanna Cole on the Magic School Bus series.
The first book, The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks, was published in 1986, and the series has sold over 95 million copies worldwide.
Scholastic Press VP David Levithan fondly remembered Degen, saying he will miss his stories and the joy he brought to creating characters like Ms. Frizzle.
As Levithan put it, generations of young readers will continue to experience that same joy when they hop on the Magic School Bus
Credit : Parade
https://parade.com/news/bruce-degen-illustrator-magic-school-bus-books-dead-79?utm_source=pushly