William's Steig's Abel's Island tells the story of a mouse who gets swept away from his beloved wife—a truly timeless classic about life's simple pleasures.

Abel's place in his familiar, mouse world has always been secure; he had an allowance from his mother, a comfortable home, and a lovely wife, Amanda. But one stormy August day, furious flood water carry him off and dump him on an uninhabited island. Despite his determination and stubborn resourcefulness--he tried crossing the river with boats and ropes and even on stepping-stones--Abel can't find a way to get back home.

Days, then weeks and months, pass. Slowly, his soft habits disappear as he forages for food, fashions a warm nest in a hollow log, models clay statues of his family for company, and continues to brood on the problem of how to get across the river--and home.

Abel's time on the island brings him a new understanding of the world he's separated from. Faced with the daily adventure of survival in his solitary, somewhat hostile domain, he is moved to reexamine the easy way of life he had always accepted and discovers skills and talents in himself that hold promise of a more meaningful life, if and when he should finally return to Mossville and his dear Amanda again.

Abel's Island is a 1976 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, and a 1977 Newbery Honor Book. It was adapted to a short animated film directed by Michael Sporn in 1988.

Before Shrek made it big on the silver screen, there was William Steig's SHREK!, a book about an ordinary ogre who leaves his swampy childhood home to go out and see the world.

Shrek, a horrid little ogre, goes out into the world to find adventure and along the way encounters a witch, a knight in armor, a dragon, and, finally, a hideous princess, who's even uglier than he is!

Dear Friends,
I am leaving in rather a hurry to see more of the world, so I have no time to say goodbye to you individually. I embrace you all and sniff you with love. I don't know when I'll be back. But back I will be.
Dominic

It's time for a change, so Dominic packs his collection of hats and his piccolo and heads out, letting the world take him where it may. When Dominic encounters members of the Doomsday Gang, he easily foils their attempt to rob him. Legend of his victory quickly spreads, and each new friend Dominic meets tells him a story of their own less-fortunate meeting with the villains, and asks for help from the heroic dog. But can one lone dog bring down an entire band of hooligans?

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene

Brave Irene is Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker's daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn't feeling so well and can't possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she's made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So plucky Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that's brewing-- quite an errand for a little girl.

But where there's a will, there's a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission.

Brave Irene is a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.
Adapted into a short film in 1989 from director Daniel Ivanick.

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sea in his homemade boat, the Rodent, and soon finds himself in extreme need of rescue. Enter Boris. But there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life of whaling about and Amos has gone back to his life of mousing around, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.

The tender yet comical story of this friendship is recorded in text and pictures that are a model of rich simplicity. Here, with apparent ease and concealed virtuosity, Caldecott medalist William Steig brings two winning heroes to life.

Amos & Boris is a 1971 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Notable Children's Book of the Year, and Outstanding Book of the Year.

William Steig's Doctor De Soto, now available in Spanish, is a 1982 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1983 Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards Honor Book for Picture Books, and a 1983 Newbery Honor Book.

El Doctor De Soto es un dentista que siempre hace buen trabajo. Con la ayuda de su capaz asistente, la Señora De Soto, el maneja los dolores de dientes de los animales grandes y pequeños. Su experiencia es tan grande que sus pacientes afortunados nunca sienten dolor alguno.

Al ser un ratón, el Doctor De Soto se rehúsa a tratar animales "peligrosos"—es decir, animales con un gusto por los ratones. Pero un día un zorro se aparece y ruega por algún alivio del dolor severo que siente en su diente. ¿Cómo pueden los De Sotos bondadosos rechazar al zorro? Pero, ¿cómo se pueden asegurar que el zorro no cederá a sus instintos básicos tan pronto su diente haya sido arreglado? Los listos De Sotos encontrarán la manera.

Doctor De Soto es un Libro Notable de Niños del Año 1982 seleccionado por el New York Times Book Review y un Libro Destacado del Año 1982, un Libro de Honor en Libros Ilustrados de 1983 en los Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards, y un Libro de Honor Newberry de 1983.

One fresh and fair summer day, as soon as his parents go out, Gorky sets up his laboratory by the kitchen sink to have another try at concocting a magic potion. This time he strikes upon the missing ingredient--half a bottle of his mother's attar of roses--and he knows it's success at last.
While he is waiting for the bubbly, glinting liquid to show what it can do, he heads over to Elephant Rock, "his best spot for doing nothing." But on the way he stops to bask in the sun, soon falls asleep--and wakes to find himself floating in the immensely blue sky, clutching his bottle of magic.
There follows the most astonishing, bewildering, and bedazzling adventure a young frog could possibly have. Orbiting the globe has its ups and downs, however, and Gorky soon begins to wonder if he'll ever get back to earth. He does manage to outwit the magic; but the potion saves a last surprise until Gorky reaches Elephant Rock, just on day later than he had planned.

Gorky Rises by William Steig is a 1980 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Notable Children's Book of the Year, and Outstanding Book of the Year.

Gawain is a loyal and true goose serving as chief guard of the royal treasury. He'd been happy enough with his life at home tending his garden and making sketches of architectural masterpieces. Now he's being charged with stealing from the treasury. Gawain is certain of his innocence, but he can't prove it. Will the real thief come forward to save Gawain, or will he live in exile forever?

Yellow & Pink is a witty picture book by William Steig, the creator of Shrek.

On a fine day, a thin, yellow puppet and a round, pink puppet sit in the sun. They wonder where they came from. Were they an accident of nature, created by a series of possible but improbable events? Did someone create them? They discuss their theories, and think they may have an answer. But just as they settle on a solution, a man arrives who raises new questions.

Praise for Yellow & Pink:

"One marvels at the expressiveness, the nearness to animation, of Steig's vibrant drawings." -The Washington Post Book World

"A comic fable that has more clout than the most fervent homily." -Publishers Weekly

"Illustrated with simple three-color drawings, this is a book that will delight adults as well as children and lead to some very interesting discussions!" -Children's Literature

To figure out William Steig's word puzzles you need merely read the letters, numbers, and symbols aloud. If at first the messages aren't clear, there are clever pictures accompanying each one to give you hints. Some are easy, some are hard, but all are a hilarious treat when the phrases are decoded.
Originally published in 1984 with black-and-white drawings, C D C ? is given fresh life in this full-color edition painted by Mr. Steig. Also included is an answer key at the end.

Amos el ratón y Boris la ballena: un par de amigos leales con nada en común excepto un buen corazón y la voluntad de ayudar a su colega mamífero. Se conocen luego de que Amos se lanza al mar en su bote fabricado por él mismo, el Roedor, y pronto se encuentra en la extrema necesidad de ser rescatado. Aparece Boris. Pero llegará el día, mucho después de que Boris haya vuelto a su vida balleneante y Amos a su vida ratoneante, en que el pequeño ratón deba buscar una forma de socorrer a la gran ballena.

Tierna y cómica a la vez, la historia de esta amistad ha sido registrada en un texto y unas ilustraciones que son un modelo de rica simplicidad. Aquí, con aparente desenvoltura y un virtuosismo disimulado, William Steig, premiado con la medalla Caldecott, da vida a dos héroes triunfantes.