The Wonderful Books of William Steig

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Children’s Books by William Steig

Today I want to share with you four of my favorite children’s books by William Steig, an author and illustrator who started writing children’s books at the age of 61, after a long career as a cartoonist for the New Yorker.

These books have been around 30-50 years and were enjoyed thoroughly by my children (and their parents). Steig has a friendly straightforward style and doesn’t hesitate to use interesting words – no dumbing down here! He is equally at home with samples of humor, ingenuity, courage, and patience in his books, all of which will be needed these modern days of pandemic.

Here are four of my favorite books by William Steig.

Children’s Books of HUMOR

Let’s start with the humor. Shrek! is probably known as the basis for the DreamWorks animation film that went on to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. As Stieg himself said of the film, “It’s vulgar and disgusting and I love it.”

Shrek is an ugly ogre who is kicked out of the house, overcomes obstacles like lightning and thunder, dragons, and nightmares of happy children, is given a prophesy by a witch and goes on to marry “the most stunningly ugly princess” and live horribly ever after. Children of all ages love this revel in the reverse of the beautiful and good of more traditional tales.

Children’s books of INGENUITY

doctor de soto by william steig

Doctor De Soto is the tale of a mouse who practices dentistry with his assistant wife on animal of all sizes, excepting those who are dangerous to mice. When a miserable fox with a toothache begs to be helped, he finally agrees. But as the fox licks his chops during the procedure, Doctor De Soto comes up with a scheme with his wife to ensure that the fox doesn’t give in to hunger and instinct.  They use their compassion for the fox and their wits for self-preservation, a win-win solution.

Children’s books of COURAGE

brave irene by william steig

In Brave Irene the seamstress mother falls ill and cannot deliver the beautiful dress to the duchess in the castle in time for her party. After tucking her mother in bed, her daughter Irene ventures out into the snowstorm with the dress carefully packed in a box. She stands up to the wind who threatens, bullies her, flings the beautiful dress out of its box and out of sight. But Irene perseveres, gets lost, falls off a cliff, finds the dress, sleds down the hill to the castle, and delivers the dress in time to a grateful duchess and a happy ending.

Children’s books of PATIENCE

sylvester and the magic pebble by william steig

William Steig won the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble in 1969. Sylvester is a donkey who finds a shiny magic pebble which can grant his wishes, but when he happens upon a hungry lion he panics and wishes to be a rock to escape the lion. He is forced to wait patiently through the seasons waiting to be found and transformed back into a donkey, and despairs of this ever happening.  In the way of fables, his parents find the rock in springtime, find the magic pebble beside it, and when they pick it up and put in on the rock that is Sylvester, he is able to make his wish to be himself once again.

The 2020 pandemic brings us unusual and unprecedented times. With most schools closed and children at home, we are forging a new pattern of days and using all our ingenuity to sweeten the inevitable transitional difficulties.

I hope you enjoy Mr. Steig’s books as much as my family and I do, as he is truly a master at the art of writing for children. Wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you find yourself, I wish you the comfort and distraction of books. For more great comforting reads, check out TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Children’s Books.

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