Reading: Authors

The Humor of William Steig

 

            Among the most beloved and honored of all children's books are those by William Steig, 1907-2003. He was a cartoonist and illustrator who was highly successful in the grownup world, too. He published more than 1,600 drawings and was highly popular in his career as a cartoonist for The New Yorker. He turned to writing and illustrating children's picture books at age 61 - which may give would-be authors hope, to see the success he had later in life.

Steig's whimsical animal characters were charming, but when he put them in imaginative and challenging situations, where they always worked out a happy ending, it made for a dynamite product.

 

His word choices and humor were captivating for children, who hate to be talked down to, and want to have fun when they read.

 

According to reviewers, his stories were valuable for the way they deal with children's fears of separation from parents, loss and abandonment, crisis and peril. Yet the emotional turmoil always gives way to a pleasing resolution, and the story lines are enjoyable and insightful, rather than the depressing and dreary content too often seen in children's books today when authors try to be "important."

 

            Among his greatest works:

 

            Shrek! An ugly green ogre finds his true love and humorous adventure through the quest for a beautiful princess, who turns out to be another ugly green ogre; this tale became a highly successful motion picture.

 

 

           

            Dr. DeSoto, about a mouse dentist who has to exercise great bravery and creativity to treat a hungry fox.

 

 

            Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, in which a donkey who accidentally turns into a rock and a mysterious, wonderful coincidence resolves the problem.

 

 

            Abel's Island, about a mouse in a smoking jacket stranded on an island after a storm.

 

            Steig was one of the most vivid characters in American art circles in his own right. Born in an immigrant family, he was an All-American water polo player in college. He carved world-class wooden figurines, and is credited with inventing the tongue-in-cheek "contemporary" greeting card.

 

            Learn more about him and his work on www.williamsteig.com.

 

Note the reading guides to some of his books that offer your child activities to expand the enjoyment and learning from these one-of-a-kind tales.