Book Description

Reviews (13)

A lesser known, but still valuable Steig classic
I love this book, and feel that William Steig is one of the most underrated and insightful children's authors. I have asked many people who have children that I know whether they have read any of his books, and the usual answer I receive is "no". What literature they have been missing out on! My son really enjoys this book, and it is one of the first books with a substantial amount of text on each page that I have been able to convince him to sit still to hear (he's almost three).
The story of a mouse and whale who find solace in a most unlikely friendship is charming and very applicable to human relationships. I think this book can teach children that friendship can be found in a people who are not necessarily like ourselves...and that these friendships are often some of the most important and profound in our lives. Hopefully, children will take away from this book the message that not everyone is the same, and that so much can be valued and gained from finding friends in those who are different from all the rest.

A soft-hearted story about the meaning of friendship
'Amos and Boris' was my favorite book when I was in Kindergarten. It is now my children's favorite, too. The characters, Amos (a mouse) and Boris (a whale) learn about friendship, loss and love in a warm, comforting story. This is a book Mr. Rogers might read to his kids - but without the annoyance factor. The illustrations are peaceful, immpressionistic, and very grown up. Parents won't mind being asked to read 'Amos and Boris' night after night.

Amos and Boris
"Amos and Boris" is one of our family's favorites, bar none. The kids (ages 9 and 7) have hundreds of books, but none touches us the way this story does. All of Steig's work is exceptional, and this story is his crowning glory. A MUST READ!! I took it into the third grade classroom as a guest reader. At the end of the story, I asked the kids to raise their hands if they liked it. 27 hands shot up!

A two-generation classic
I recently stumbled upon this book in my public library and was instantly taken back to many fond moments spent in its pages during my childhood. I brought it home to my five-year-old who is now just as enchanted. This smple update of Aesop's classic Mouse and Lion tale is a guaranteed pleaser.

great!
this was my ABSOLUTE favorite book as a child. i couldn't put it down! for some reason it always made me sad at the end....beautiful book.... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

A gentle and witty book, sure to delight children and adults
This tale of a gentle and clever mouse dentist who outwits a hungry fox charmed my children. It's a delightfully witty book and a pleasure to read to children, who will request it over and over again!

Vinny Fusco's Review
This book teaches an excellant lesson to young readers. This, I feel is the books strongest asset. It teaches children to not take advantage of people and when a hungry fox tries to eat his helpful mouse dentist and his wife, he winds up with his mouth glued together. The good dentist and his wife are weary about accepting a fox as a patient because they are mistrustful, but when the pathetic fos pleads for their help with a severe toothache, they accept the cahllenge. Eventually they outsmart the mischevious fox resulting in a happy ending.

De Soto: Mouse Dentist Extraordinaire!
The author William Steig will be forever missed for his clever and delightful stories for the kiddie set. In "Doctor De Soto", Steig places the action in a land where such stories as "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" have taken place. In the story, animals of all types interact just as humans do, all the while retaining some very wild aspects. The story takes place in what looks to be the 1930s. As in Steig's "When Everybody Wore a Hat", the animals look as if they'd be comfortable listening to the radio and discussing President Roosevelt's reforms before going to bed each night. Dr. De Soto is a mouse dentist, who runs a quiet family practice with his wife. Normally, the De Soto's do not treat carnivorous animals but that rule changes when a pitiful fox comes to them with a toothache. Steig's drawings are sometimes easily dismissed as simplistic. This is not the case. Tiny details dot the illustrations, giving each page the feel of a snapshot into another world. The stairs leading to the De Soto office are separated into two types, large for bigger animals (donkeys, pigs, etc.) and smaller for woodland creatures. Dr. De Soto himself has set up a series of pulleys that allow him to work in the larger animals' mouths. Kids will like the book, gleefully observing the picture where a bloody infected tooth is pulled from the fox's mouth (little droplets of blood falling to the ground). If there is a moral to the story, it's probably to be vigilant. But who picks up a Steig book for a moral? This is just a fun piece of kid literature that everyone will like. It probably works best as an introductory text to the world of William Steig. Just be sure not to miss it.

Not for anyone who is unsure about dentists...
This book describes pulling a tooth pretty graphically (complete with blood dripping off the tooth) and then the dentist tricks his fox patient by telling him what is really glue is a treatment to prevent toothaches.

I'm sure older kids who are already familiar with their dentist would like this book, but it is NOT for small children or the faint of heart.

A Treasure
I have read this book to children ages 3 to 9. They all love it.

A witty and thought provoking book for all ages! ... Read more

Book Description

On a rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results.

How Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family and restored to his true self makes a story that is beautifully tender and filled with magic. Illustrated with William Steig's glowing pictures, this is a modern classic beloved by children everywhere.

Selected as one of the 100 Best Books of the Century by the National Education Association. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

If Wishes Were Things, Where Would We Be?
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble won the Caldecott Medal as the best illustrated children's story of 1970. The images stand out for their tender renditions of emotion in the faces and bodies of the animals in the illustrations. Nature is rendered in just as malleable a way to emphasize the changes going on in the story.

The story itself is a variation of the familiar theme of the grass being greener on the other side. In typical fashion, that fable theme is carried out here through many trials and tribulations that will help your child appreciate the joys of what otherwise would be consider humdrum. The strength of the story is the way the moral is made more explicit than in most other versions of this theme.

This book will never be forgotten by any child who reads it, and should be enjoyed by most children beginning around age 3. Fascination will tend to dull after age 6.

Sylvester Duncan (a donkey) lived with his parents. His favorite activity was to collect pebbles of unusual shapes and colors. One rainy Saturday during vacation, he was alone when he found a quite extraordinary one. It was "flaming red, shiny, and perfectly round, like a marble." Shivering in the rain, he wished that the sun would come out . . . and it did. The rain stopped so fast, "It CEASED." "It struck him that magic must be at work . . . ." He "guessed that the magic must be in the . . . pebble."

He then ran three tests. He started the rain, stopped it again, and got rid of a wart on his left hind fetlock.

Excited, he headed back home.

He ran into a lion. Startled, he made a wish without thinking. "I wish I were a rock." Well, he succeeded. The lion left.

The only trouble was, the pebble fell away from Sylvester. He could no longer hold it to make more wishes come true. He wished away, but still stayed a rock. It was a very dull occupation.

His parents were frantic, and started a massive search. Even the dogs could do no good because Sylvester smelled like a rock rather than himself. A year passed slowly.

Then through happenstance, the pebble touches Sylvester again. When he wished to be Sylvester again, he changed back in a twinkling!

The Duncan family was delighted to be reunited.

"Mr. Duncan put the magic pebble in an iron safe." "Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for?"

"They had all they wanted."

As you can see, this story is good for dealing with issues like your child's concerns about losing her or his parents, separation anxiety, the dangers of leaving home, and "magic" based fears. You can provide lots of encouraging reassurance as you read the story, explaining how your child's situation is much different from Sylvester's.

The illustrations pick up on the language in the story, so this book will be one of the easier books for you child to learn to read when he or she is around 5 or 6.

After you finish the story, I suggest that you ask your child what she or he would wish for if a magic pebble came along. Then talk about how one might obtain something just as good or better through your family's own efforts . . . without the benefit of magic. This can help your child appreciate the magic of mind and spirit within each of us to turn worthwhile wishes into reality. You can point out that this method has an advantage. It never turned anyone into a rock by accident!

Touch the magical imagination of your child to create a world of real potential for both of you!

A Classic for all Ages
William Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is one of the greatest picture books yet written. Steig is really the master of the genre.

The story is of Sylvester, who is accidentally turned into a rock by a magic pebble. This horrid situation causes Sylvester and his family to realize the true love they have shared and tosses them into total boredom with life. They have to find a way to get back to one another.

The book is so moving. The pictures are beautiful as is the prose. The story teaches the joy of love that families should share. It can also be read on an even deeper level as a metaphor for death and the redemptive power of love. Overall, this is an entertaining and brilliant book which can pack an enormous punch within its few pages.

A rock forever?
Sylvester the donkey collects rocks, and when he finds a special one, he adds it to his collection. While holding it , he wishes for the rain to stop, and it does. Finding that the pebble is magic, Sylvester hurries on his way to tell his parents. However, on the way home, he is confronted by a lion hungry for donkey for lunch. Remembering the magic pebble, Sylvester wishes to be a rock. Bad decision! With no way of holding the rock, Sylvester cannot change himself back to a donkey after the threat is gone. Will he be a rock forever?
Great story, Caldecott medal winner. Subtly teaches your kids that "things" aren't the important things in life, your family is. Short and enjoyable, this is one your kids won't ever want to part with and will pass on to their children.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a meaningful story about a donkey named Sylvester Duncan. On a mysterious day, Sylvester found a magic pebble and realized that the special pebble would grant him any wish. Suddenly he sees a lion, and in a panick, out of all the things he could have wished for, he wished to turn into a rock. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were frantically worried, as Sylvester had not returned home. I enjoyed this story, as it makes the reader aware of the love and joy families should share, and to always be careful for what you wish for.

Lovely Book
I am a granma to 3 beautiful grandaughters and when my children where little my middle son's teacher read him this book at school he was so touched by it that when i saw an article on william steig and realised that it was the same author who has since written shrek i determined to purchase this wonderful book for my grandchildren who i must say have enjoyed it as much as my children did. A wonderful story teaches children that its not always pleasant to get what you wish for and sometimes its just nice to be grateful for what you've got. ... Read more

Book Description

N-R-E S N T-S.

N-Q = Thank you.

S M-T = It's empty.

D N S 5 X = The hen has five eggs.

It looks like a secret code, but read the letters aloud and solve the puzzle! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Cdb!
A gift at 16, I laughed at every page... at 42, I am ordering 4 copies...a difficult book to review as you really have to see it to believe it. So order one up, and one for a friend. Enjoy, laugh and learn to C D B.

Letters make the world go round!
Hello friends!, I hope that you have had a chance to read this wonderful book. The magic of letters truly comes alive with excitement! For me, my favorite part is all of the silly letters that can be found throughout this outstanding book! I know this book is going to be my favorite for a long, long time. So, now that you have read my review take a moment to read this extraordinary book-anytime-anywhere! Enjoy!

I M N X-T-C!
smart! adorable! unexpected! (the book, not my kids...)
This book really has us rolling in laughter. My sons (ages 4 and 6) and I have been playing with an electronic toy: push a letter and the thing says the letter's name. We had been using it to make word sounds -- pressing U R A Q T for "you are a cutie" and so forth. When I saw this book I just had to get it. It is amazingly clever -- and to think it was written in 1968. It's fresh, not at all dated. My sons are very good readers for their respective ages, but it is definitely appropriate for them. I had to explain a phrase or two (they didn't know the word "ecstacy" when they saw X-T-C) but otherwise it was totally on their level. I still crack up reading it, and I've read it at least ten times. The watercolor illustrations are perfect. Stieg conveys a lot of emotion and expression with just a few brush strokes. When a boy sees someone with a lollipop and tells him "I N-V U," you can see the envy.
I won't mind if my kids want to read this one again and again. I M N X-T-C 2!

taught me how to read
This book helped me learn to read when i was 3 years old. As long as you know the alphabet you can read this book, which makes it perfect for children who are learning to read.

This is the most fun book!
I remembered this book from my elementary school library, and was delighted to find that it had been reprinted. This book is meant to be read out loud and deciphered - our children ages 16 down to 6 were entertained, as were the adults in the house too. This book is just plain fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Pete's father starts kneading the dough. Next, some oil is generously applied. (Its really water.) And then some tomatoes. (They're really checkers.) When the dough gets tickled, it laughs like crazy. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

I truly love this book.
My wife and I are currently expecting our first child and have begun putting together a little library of children's books. This one is our favorite. It's sweet and funny and has wonderful illustrations. I can't wait to read it to our little one -- and to make "Pizza" a game for our family as well!

Good, simple fun.
This book is an easy read with expressive pictures. Pete's father plays a game with him to cheer him up and his mother soon joins in. It is a sweet family moment, where the family uses lots of imagination. At first, I didn't see the charm in this book. But my three year old twins liked it. They started requesting it more and more often. And I enjoyed reading it each time. It is a "feel good" book. (And, for me, the price of the book is worth just hearing my toddlers say "Pete's a Pizza!") Since my children are so delighted with Pete being made into a pizza, and then seeing the "pizza" run away, I think I will have to try making them into a pizza soon.

Cute and cheerful
It's a rainy day and Pete is in a sour mood. His dad decides to cheer him up by making him into a pizza. He puts him on a table, kneads him, tosses him in the air, and puts toppings on. The game continues with laughs all around until the sun finally comes out and Pete can go out and play. The book is not at all scary. It's a great make-believe book. It has about 300 words.

a copy for my kids, a copy just for me!
My favorite children's book- oh yeah, my kids like it too. i keep one under my pillow for times when i need a smile!

Wonderful
We have played a game like this at our house where we make pizza out of our son and daughter. They have always enjoyed it. They loved reading this book and seeing how someone else can make a pizza out of a kid.

The pictures are very cute. The writing is easy to read.

Enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Steig’s witty dialectic on the nature of existence
... Read more

Reviews (6)

One of my all time favorite books
I love this book because it shows quite simply how ridiculous the theory of evolution really is.

Made My 3- & 5-Year-Olds Think
I never thought I'd approach the subject of divine creation vs. evolution when I read this book to my preschooler and Kindergartener in a coffee shop. But, they had a lot to say (and question) about our existence after I read them this book! William Steig does it again -- impressing both parents and children with his witty but simple style that takes on challenging subject matter.

A complicated subject taught in a simple way for kids!
This is a terrific book for teaching a complicated subject. Cute illustrations and texts that make both children and adults question the theory of evolution. Your children can be taught logic and discernment at such a young age with this book. Highly recommended to all. A great introduction to intelligent design for any age. I have read this both to my 4 year old and 8 year old. Both enjoyed it and can see the fallacies of evolution.

Cute but biased
Cute illustrations but blatently focused on Intelligent Design. While I don't expect a kids book to be "fair and balanced," this book made evolution seem very silly with no hint of the idea of natural selection. I'm not reading this to my kid.

Cute, but not enlightening
This silly little book makes the obvious argument for creationism, "cleverly" observing how unlikely it seems that we humans just woke up and found ourselves here in all our glory. The evidence supporting evolution is harder to explain in 100 words or less, perhaps, but that's no excuse for pretending it doesn't exist. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (39)

Abel's Island Book Review
Abel's Island, by William Steig, is a wonderful book for ages 8-12. The book is about two mice, Abel and Amanda that has a picnic and Abel picks a huge flower and gives it to her.Then it started raining, then Amanda's scarf flies away and Abel tried to catch it. After that, Abel gets stuck in an island. How does he go home?... In my opinion, Abel's Island is funny,fun and exciting. So Abel's Island is the best. You should read this book because the book is wonderful, funny, fun, exciting and teaches you a lesson. I give this book a 5 star because it is fabulous. Also, the pictures are helpful, that's because if there is a hard word, the picture helps you. The cat wanted to eat Abel but Abel climbed the tree. What happens? I say this is a great book, Abel's Island.

A deceptively simple, very sophisticated book
I read this to my Grade 4 students at the beginning of every school year, and they are totally entranced by it. Even though Abel is a newly married adult mouse, it is a very much a story geared to the growing independence of 8 to 10 year olds. Stranded on an island for a year, the snobby, cultured Abel, who dearly loves champagne and caviar, must learn to eat wild foods and fend for himself.

William Steig's books are always surprisingly complex once you delve a little beneath the surface. Abel discovers a new part of his true mouse self, a base, wild creature who survives on seeds and nuts and can gnaw his way through wood. But he also develops his artistic talents as a sculptor and thus needn't depend on Mommy's wealth any more when he finally returns to society. There is delightful interplay here between seemingly contradicting messages: Must one learn to accept one's true nature? Or must we go through trials and challenges to develop our "civilized" talents?

An aspect of Steig's writing that never fails to captivate children is that he doesn't write "down" to them. He challenges them to new levels of sophistication, and children respond wholeheartedly to this. He uses lots of very big, fancy words, which never slow the story down or make it too difficult, but intrigue children more and more about language.

A great "while reading" strategy is to make a chart to record the problem, the solutions tried, and the results. The main problem is that Abel is stranded on an island. He tries many, many solutions, and they all fail until the very last one. Having this on a chart makes clear to kids that one must often try over and over until one succeeds, but NEVER GIVE UP TRYING! And, maybe even enjoy the meantime!

I would highly recommend this as a book to read and discuss with children, however, it makes a wonderful book to read independently as it is short and has great pictures.

Robinson Crusoe the Mouse
What a lovely book! Beautifully written. Charming, loving story of a mouse stranded on an island surviving on his own.

I borrowed this book from the library to read with my daughter, but I fell in love with it, and am buying a copy for my permanent collection.

Ables Island
Ables Island
Book Review by: Olivia

Have you ever tried to save someone's scarf before? After you read this book I think you will realize what it can lead to! This is how it went... One lovely day a little mouse named Able and his beautiful wife were having a delicious picnic. Then... BOOM! Thunder and lighting hit the sky. They found shelter quickly but Able wife's scarf quickly but the wind blew him away! So Able has to learn to live in a strange new place that the wind took him to, make friends, and find away to get home.
I think that the author was trying to tell the reader that little things can come in big packages. And never to give up no matter how small you are. Remember, at the end of every tunnel there is light. So in other words never give up!
I liked this book because I liked the way the author made the charters jump right out of the page. This book took me to far away places and I hope it dose the same with you! But the big question is...dose Able get rhe scarf back to his wife, Or dose he have to stay in the wilderness for the rest of his life? Read it and you will find out!

Best Children's Book Yet? Maybe
Abel's Island by William Steig is truly one of the best children's books that has been produced. Any person, young or old, can learn from this beautiful little novel and be moved by it.

It is the story of Abel, a mouse who one day is separated from his wife by a terrible storm. Abel had been a rich, secure mouse in his former life. But in his new life, alone on an island, he learns to challenge himself. His experiences give him great insights into his true being. He also learns to appreciate that he really had in his former life, especially the love of his wife.

The plot is very simple to the novel. Abel has to survive and try to get back to his wife. It is very Robinson Crusoesque. But the novel is told with such warmth and humor that the reader is totally enraptured by this tale. The prose is so beautiful, the character's so endearing, and the insights are so great that no one who reads it will ever forget it. I just finished carrying it around for a couple of days on a college campus while I was rereading it, and it was seen and remembered by so many of my fellow students who cherished as students. Any child should read this as should any adult. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

The Original Shrek.
No, this is not a book based off the blockbuster movie. In fact, this little story is where the idea for SHREK the movie came from. The story and illustrations are classic William Stieg, mixing a childlike fascination with a bizarre almost cynical, humorous look at the world. In this case, Steig takes on the fairy tale.

Shrek is an ugly green ogre who can belch fire. However, one day his parents decide it's time to kick him out of the family hole in the swamp and see what mischief he can do in the world. He wanders through the woods and meets a witch who is repulsed by his stench and appearance, but agrees to tell him his future for one of his lice. She predicts that in a castle Shrek will find his true love, a princess, and live happily ever after. Along the way, Shrek runs into a talking donkey, a dragon, and an inept knight. He finally reaches the castle and meets a princess there who is more hideous than Shrek. They woo each other with monster poetry and are married at the end.

The story is funny, but children who have seen the movie too many times may not find the book as amusing as they would have before. The original Shrek is a totally different kind of ogre than the one in the movie. The original Shrek is borish, hideous, and somewhat offensive. Nevertheless, this is a story that somewhat older children do enjoy and if nothing else it's worth reading to see where the idea for SHREK the movie started.

Horribly Likeable
We knew Shrek long before there was a movie. William Steig has once again created an unforgettable character. Kids will love how Shrek revels in his own hideousness!

Steig challenges the reader with a high level vocabulary such as fusty fens, varlets and peasants scything blithely, and churlish knaves falling into stagnant moats.

Anyone who just saw Shrek and is looking for some sort of movie novelization should go elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, we all loved the movie, but it is only VERY loosely based on this book. The donkey is more given to chomping grass than making wisecracks, for instance.

I would recommend this book to parents of little boys and encourage you to check out other works by this author.

Horrible Ogre, horrible book...
My children and I both loved the movie, but the book is far from it. No real redeeming value you here. The story was dumb and gross. Shrek is an Ogre, so no real surprise I guess. W. Steig's book, "The Real Thief," on the other hand, was a gem.

BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!!!!
I loved this book long before the dumb old movie came out and I knew I'd be sorely disappointed if they didn't get it right and turn the magic from the book onto the screen.... and while it was annoying that they made Shrek's 'ugly' wife so cute even in ogre form (I guess they were afraid to really make her ugly like in the book, the only thing I see about her when she turns ogre is she's heavier and being heavy doesn't make a person ugly) the whole moral behind Steig's story is "Accept yourself just the way you are" or something along the lines of "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and the movie, while funny with great voice actors, really messes with that moral.... Princess Fiona is the thin archetype of today's societal idea of beauty while her 'ogre' form is a heavyset, still cute, yet inferred to as ugly form of herself.... not only that, but Shrek does not accept himself the way he is during the movie... the funniest part about the book is Shrek's complete confidence and love of his own 'flaws' (or what others see as flaws in him) the illustrations aren't primitive at all. They are charming and wonderful...and couldn't possibly be improved upon... If you want the movie go see it, if you want something better- read the book.... especially if you like a bad pun now and then. William Steig is a genious. I wish the movie hadn't been made because now this wonderful book will be compared to it - and it should never have had to be more charming than Mike Meyer's or Cameran Diaz or Eddie Murphy's jokes. It stands on it's own apart from the movie... Steig's book was really too cool for him to sell away the rights to the storyline and let them screw it up the way they did. In otherwords: read the book, love the book.... take your kid out to see the movie and laugh at the kind of entertainment you can see on comedy central anyday... but read the book out loud in a storyteller voice with wild gesticulations at bed time to your child and sing-song the crooney old witches voice... then kiss your child and put them to bed to dream of wilder things than the imagination can aspire to. This book was MADE to read out loud to children. William Steig is a children's literature demi-God. I love him, love him, LOVE HIM! *grin*

Nothing like the movie but WONDERFUL!
This was a family favorite for years before the film came out. Nothing against the film, which is a hoot, but the Shrek of William Steig's book is FAR lustier in his awfulness than the movie Shrek. He absolutely REVELS in his disgusting characteristics, and ends up meeting a princess who is the ugliest, most smelly, most horrific thing he's ever seen in his life. Naturally, he falls madly in love! They quote monster poetry to each other:

Sadi Shrek, "Your horny warts, your rosy wens, like slimy bogs and fusty fens, thrill me."

Said the princess, "Your lumpy nose, your pointy head, your wicked eyes, so livid red, just kill me."

Was ever a romance so beautifully begun?!?? This is wonderful, wonderful stuff. Steig absolutely revels in making these two creatures as awful as possible, and young readers (and not so young!) will enjoy the fun that Steig clearly had writing and illustrating this classic book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

We read it over and over again.
At age three I started reading Brave Irene to my daughter. She is now nine years old and it remains her all time favorite book. Back then we would read it at least tree times a week or more. Still, Now every once in awhile, Annie comes to me and says " can we read Brave Irene together". The story is about a young girl Irene who seems to be maybe nine or ten years old. Her mother is a dressmaker and has made a gown for the dutches for her ball.Unfortunatley her mother isn't feeling to well and can't get the gown to dutches in time for the ball.Irene being a very responsible, carring, and BRAVE child,Wants to help her mom. So she takes the gown to the dutches. She has some problems along the way, But because of her love for her mother, she is determined to get the job done. I feel that there are many lessons this book can teach a child. The main one being,CARRING. Our first copy of this book is so worn out, I recently bought a new one..

A plucky fairytale
I really enjoy reading Brave Irene to my little girl for several reasons. The language used by Stein is beautiful - it's such a marvellous book for introducing new and unusual words for pre-school children. It also provides such inventive descriptions - also great for showing how you can apply your imagination to words! I completely disagree with those who think it puts children in a position of danger. Rot! It's a fairytale - not a story of reality. And fairytales allow children to enter worlds they would never have the opportunity to do so in real life and allow them to be brave and go on amazing adventures - this is precisely what Brave Irene does and it does it so well. Irene is so plucky and so independent and solves problems so well! And she's a girl! So nice to have a "girl" hero like this! And most of all - my three year old loves Brave Irene - she gasps in the right places and cheers her on and marvels at her determination. Brave Irene has opened yet another vista of opportunity for my little girl's imagination and love of books. Well done William Steig!

I love this book !!
I love "Brave Irene"! I read it during first grade and it's still one of my favorite stories.

Mrs. Bobbin, Irene's mother is a dressmaker. She just finished making this beautiful dress and she has to get it to the duchess, the person who ordered the dress, because the duchess was having a party. But Mrs. Bobbin is feeling sick, she has a headache and her head is hot. So Irene volunteered to get the dress over to the duchess's house, Mrs. Bobbin protested because it was snowing a lot outside. Irene sets out to deliver the dress to the duchess. She battles with the wind and snow, while carrying the big box, holding the gown but would she be able to get the dress over to the duchess's house?

The reason I love this book is because of the dedication and love Irene shows for her mom. Irene would do anything for her mom and I find that really sweet of Irene. I recommend this to everyone and I hope they enjoy it, even if it IS a children's picture book.

wonder why others gave it 5 stars...
Brave Irene is a story about a little girl who risks her life to deliver a fancy dress to a royal in a snowstorm. Irene suffers terribly to do so. I do not think this is a good thing! I have a little girl and I would never allow her to put herself in danger for a stupid dress. I bought this book because of the other reviews...and because I also own Pete's a Pizza... a much better book by William Steig.

Great Reading!
Breve Irene is a wonderful book to share with young children. It is the story of a little girl who is determined and courageous. She must deliver a gown to a duchess for her mother who is sick and can not do it herself. Irene braves the bitter weather of a snow storm to get the job done against all odds. I love this book for two reasons. It reminded me of my daughter Irene who braved one of the worst snow storms to get me at the hospital and for the wonderful reaction and discussion I had with my students after reading it to them the first day back to school after a snow storm. I recommend it to parents and teachers to share it with young children ages 5 to 8 yrs. and strike up a good dicussion with your children. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

Beautifully illustrated but not for young children.
I bought this book based on the fact it was a Caldecott Honorable Mention and based on the reviews. I have to say my son loved the book until we got to the part where robbers in Halloween masks jump out of the bushes and put a gun to Pearl's head. Hello? You reviewers out there. My son (3, almost 4) was shocked. He asked a zillion questions about the robbers. Weren't they bad? Did they hurt Pearl? Why (how come) they were robbing her? The next day the questions continued. I bought 10 Caldecott books and we were reading the books right out of the box and I failed to preview the story. Big mistake. This book is charming and wonderful except for the robbery scene which is graphic and extremely disturbing. That scene also seems out of place. In my opinion, it does not belong in a children's book. Parents of young children--beware of this book. Adults, enjoy it.

Exceptional children's book and this adult loves it dearly..
Steig is my favorite children's book author and The Amazing Bone my favorite of his books. I love the characters and the sense of evil conquered by the lovely piggirl. His depiction of spring is wonderful, like a breath of fresh air. Steig transports the reader with his sweet magic, but always maintains a balance with his evil characters lurking just around the corner. Read all of his stuff, you'll truly be a better person for it.

Story is similar to...
This book's central drama echoes the plotline of Beatrice Potter's "Jenima Puddle-Duck." Of course, the characters of the wily fox and the babe in the woods are archetypes, but compare the two texts side-by-side (Potter's tale can be found online). However, it would be a big stretch to say Steig is "copying" in any way because his work has a charm and originality all its own. Anybody else read both texts recently and have an opinion on this observation?

That bone that bone's gonna get around
Why hello book of my youth! And may I say, how pleasant it is to read you once again. I know it's been at least 20 years since I was but a wee tot on my mother's knee. She would read "The Amazing Bone" to me time and time again, and I really did find it a delightful story. Now, years and years later, I read it again. There's something about a good Steig book. And to me, this is the most evocative of his stories. Oh, there are people firmly devoted to "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble". And I daresay "Shrek" and "Doctor De Soto" have their fans as well. But give me "The Amazing Bone" over these trifles any day. It's a warm ribald thoroughly satisfying tale of a young pig, a talking bone, and the troubles that ensue.

Pearl is a sweet young pig winding her way home one day. Enjoying the people around her, the clean crisp air, and the softness of the flowered glens, Pearl is a bit like Little Red Riding Hood. She is in no particular hurry to get home. When Pearl stumbles across a magical talking bone, she is delighted. The bone too is quite happy and the two make a delicious pair. When robbers (frightfully dressed in scary masks and carrying guns & knives) attempt to rob little Pearl, the bone successfully drives the bandits off with scary sounds. Some parents find this an inappropriate portion of the tale and will make a very big deal about it. Honestly? It's just a little too weird to seriously freak out a child. I daresay parents are the ones frightened by this part of the book. Not kiddies. Continuing in the story a dapper fox is less gullible than the silly robbers. When he decides to make Pearl his meal, the bone's cries are in vain. It is only through a series of fortunate turns of fate that Pearl and her bone may return safe and sound to her home and her parents.

Don't get me wrong. The story is doggone bizarre. One of Steig's weirdest by far. Steig was a fan of the small common object (bone, pebble, etc.) containing great grandiose powers. His stories often focus on the little fellow outwitting the big (sometimes literally). And foxes were his favorite villains. Often elegantly dressed, they have the capacity for pity. They just ignore it. This particular story is especially disturbing because of the nature of Pearl's abduction. The fox forces her into his abandoned shack, leaving her cowering on the floor of a room. Want to drill into your children the horrors of strangers and the dangers of going anywhere with them? I can't think of a better method of getting this point home (though, admittedly, I don't remember getting that message when I myself read this story as a child). Though the book certainly contains creepy possibilities, the story is a good one. You're safe with Steig. And just a word on the beauty of his illustrations. Though Steig obviously preferred to grow messier and squigglier in his creations as he aged, no scene in children's picture books is more perfectly pastoral than the shot of Pearl reclining amongst the flowering trees and fields. All in all, a great story couched in a great book.

Frightening - and not in a fun way.
This book shocked me, and I am NOT an over-reactive type of parent. My daughter picked this up in a waiting room and we were reading happily together. I couldn't believe it when our heroine suddenly had a gun to her head!! And abducted and taken to an abandoned house where she is left in a room alone to ponder an imminent death? Yeah, of course she escapes. But then she merely goes home where the entire incident is glossed over. It was the strangest children's book I have ever seen and certainly the most unpleasant. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Very enjoyable!
My four children have enjoyed this book , as well as CDB. I brought both books in to my son's 4th grade "Reading Day" and the whole class participated in the "puzzle-solving" text. They had so much fun with both books!! I highly recommend these books for a fun and interactive read!

Very clever, but not for all ages
This is a very clever book and it's quite fun reading. However, my 4 year old and I read together all the time and I bought this for him thinking it would be good for him too, but some of the picture themes are not interesting for a small child. This would be good for a 9-10 years +.

1 4 D E-G-S
If you enjoy struggling - and moaning at the punning clues - with the NYT crossword, you'll have a good time and a quick read, one that you'll want to repeat when feeling low. I brought my copy to the office; and am ordering more as gifts for twisted minds. FYI, the caption in question says to me, "Everyone here is dippy."

This book is very entertaining - - for the whole family!!!!
Couldn't figure out one puzzle that went something like - "Everyone here is ...." and then "D P".

Any clues please let me know the solution to the puzzle; it has been driving me and my 9 year old daughter crazy. Thanks.

A wonderful book, by no means only for ages 9 - 12
Although this is a companion to the equally clever " CDB", by the same author, this book, with its sophisticated phrases and illustrations, is even funnier and more impressive to grown-up readers. To rate it for "Readers 9 - 12" does it a disservice. It is a delight for any age. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dominic is a one-of-a-kind dog. One day this exuberant, restless, freedom-loving fellow decides there isn't enough going on in his neighborhood to satisfy his need for adventure. And off he goes, with an assortment of hats (rakish, dashing, solemn, and martial), his precious piccolo, and a few other things, leaving a note on his door:

Dear Friends, I am leaving rather in 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.

As he continues his journey, we find Dominic to be considerate, compassionate, generous, and philosophical. As he ponders the nature of death, the nature of wealth, the role of art in our lives, the nature of good and evil, and the yearning for true love, readers are left with a feeling that life is basically good, and even splendid:

"What a wonderful world!" thought Dominic. "How perfect!" Had it been up to him when things were first made, he wouldn't have made them a whit different. Every leaf was in its proper place. Pebbles, stones, flowers, all were just as they ought to be.Water ran where it should run. They sky was properly blue. All sounds were in tune. Everything had its appropriate smell.

Reviews (25)

Dominic
Dominic ,is a fast paced ,fun to read book. the story is filled with heartwarming and adventerous moments. The book is about a dog that goes on a journey and finds a series of adventures. Dominic meets a wild bunch of animal characters on the way. Most of the character's names didn't fit with their appearance ,for example Matilda Fox is a goose.
Matilda Fox is my favorite character because she tried new things such as flying , walking ,and swimming. The Doomsday gang didn't have names. The gang is an evil troop of animals that Dominic had to defeat over and over again. If you want to join Dominic on his fun filled adventures ,pick up Dominic and get pulled inside a journey.

I worship this book!
This is one of the most amazing books I have ever encountered. William Steig creates a world to lose yourself in with evil foxes, charming geese, complex characters galore, and of course, our favorite dog of all time, Dominic himself. Perhaps the best part about Dominic is its sense of the mystery and wonder of life, of the importance of making good choices and the opportunities offered by taking the path less traveled. I absolutely fell in love with this book- it's a tale of wonder, excitement, chases, escapes, and doing the right thing. Dominic truly has a "heart of gold with nerves of steel," and he is so noble and young and brave and truthful that you wish you could leap right into the pages and help him out whenever the Doomsday Gang tries another attack. It's a truly amazing and touching read- I still get choked up when I read it sometimes.

Best children's book ever!
This was the first "real book" I remember reading as a little boy. I suppose I was about 6 or 7. I read and re-read Dominic many times and loved it more each time. I suppose it has be something like 35 years since I first read this book and I still remember it fondly. How many things can you say that about?

Great book!
I bought this book for my 7 year old because his name is also Dominic. I read it to him each night before bed. He really liked it. Dominic (the dog) is a very witty dog who gets through many different adventures. I actually enjoyed reading this book to my son. This book is positive and definitely gets kids to use their imaginations!

Only 50 pages into it & already in love
I am a 5th grade teacher, and we read "Abel's Island" as part of our curriculum. I adore Steig's style, so I decided to buy "The Real Thief" and "Dominic" for summer reading. I read all of "The Real Thief" on the car ride home (I was not the one driving) and now I am about 50 pages into Dominic and it is incredible! I wanted to save it to read at the beach, but I don't think I can wait that long! While detailing the first few chapters to a friend, she got chills imagining how whimsical and wonderful this dog's tale is!

Ok, gotta go...I have a date with a dog named Dominic. :) ... Read more

Book Description

A stick or a stone
A cat or a dog
Rain or snow

Which would YOU rather be

Reviews (1)

Decisions, Decisions.....
As a large, gray, wand wielding rabbit, complete with upturned magician's hat, sits facing a young boy and girl, he asks..."Which would you rather be? A stick or a stone?" And so the game begins. Would you rather be an elbow or a knee, mouse or elephant, rain or snow, snake or crocodile, alone or together? Some of the answers seem to be obvious, as we see a balding, eyeglass wearing, paper reading grown-up come out of the hat, compared to a skateboard riding kid. But it's clear from the start that there are no right or wrong answers. Just thoughtful, clever fun. William Steig's minimal text, floating in dialogue bubbles, sets the stage. But it's Harry Bliss' bold, bright, and expressive artwork that steals the show with its humorous detail. Perfect for preschoolers, Which Would You Rather Be? is a simple and entertaining picture book that will get those creative juices flowing. This is just the beginning; the game is sure to continue long after the book is closed. ... Read more

Book Description

In this gathering of his writing on children, Reich demonstrates the impact of the environment of the infant, showing how it can warp the child's development. He points particularly to how disastrous the exclusion of genitality is to the child.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great alternative to contemporary hysteria
Reich believed that nothing require our dedication more than an understanding of the impact of the environment on the infant child. In Children of the Future, he shows how disastrous the exclusion of genitality is to the young and how important its influence is on their development. Included here is "The Sexual Rights of Youth" published in a revised form. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A story that transcends time...
I read this story to my son when he was a little tyke. He's now nearly 20. I haven't read the book in years, yet, lately, I've been thinking a lot about Gorky and his travels away from home, up into the "blue, blue sky". Guess it has something to do with my 3 kids all about ready to take off on their own. The prose is marvelous, full of colorful and descriptive language, the story is beautiful, about the joy and pain of growing up and away, and the illustrations are an added benefit, though unnecessary due to the ability of the author to draw wonderful pictures with his magical use of the English language. Thank you William Steig! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who hasn't known the sickening, demoralizing feeling of beingfalsely accused? In The Real Thief, William Steig explores this injustice with the keen insight of a good psychologist and the skillful pacing of a brilliant storyteller. Gawain is a goose, a guard for the new Royal Treasury, and intensely loyal to the honey-scented, gruff, fatherly King Basil the bear: "He wanted to please him, to stay forever in his gruff, good graces. Everyone did. Basil was a popular king." The Royal Treasury consists of jewels, medallions, and precious crowns of historical interest--and the only creatures who have keys to the Treasury are Gawain and the King himself. One fateful day, Gawain discovers to his horror that the pile of rubies is smaller than it should be. He hurries to tell the King, and they both rush back to count them: "Sure enough, there were only 8,643 of the red gems when there should have been 8,672." Day after day, treasures continue to disappear, including the world-famous Kalikak diamond!

The King is flummoxed. He calls a meeting of his Royal Cabinet, who finally persuade him that the thief must be his faithful Gawain, whom he loves like a son: "He sent his councilors away and slumped in his throne, dejected. Having listened to an opinion he didn't really believe but was forced to respect, he grew confused and fell into muddled ponderings." That very night Gawain is rousted out of bed at midnight and dragged to the castle dungeon. A trial is held a few days later, and the innocent goose is found guilty, his name disgraced forever. He hates the ones he had trusted and loved for seeing evil in him that isn't there, and he flies the coop before he can be locked away. The real thief? That is for the reader to discover. In this simple fable of justice, loyalty, friendship, and betrayal, Steig again manages to portray a reflection of life so heart-rendingly accurate it's uncanny. Children will be on the edge of their seats throughout this powerful, suspenseful tale, and visibly relieved by the happy, forgiving ending. (Ages 8 and older, excellent for reading aloud) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Teacher's Point of View
This book was a wonderful experience for my 4th grade class. It demonstrated how one action, no matter what the motive, can affect others around you. My students liked predicting what would happen next and they also liked the "surprise" ending. The story was full of mini lessons that the students didn't mind learning because they were enjoying it so much!
Very easy for my low readers to follow, yet challenging enough for my higher readers to keep interested. I would definitely recommend this book.

Review by a fourth-grade boy
This is a story about a goose who gets blamed for stealing treasure which he didn't steal. The best part was when you find out who the real thief is. I might have given it five stars if all the characters were human.

One of the best children's book I have ever read!!
I am an avid reader and this is the one THE BEST children's book I have read. Great moral and ethical values for a child to learn at an early age. Loyalty, honestly, and integrity are more important than money, and position. Also, when life seems to turn against you, sometimes your friends turn and run also. Can't understand why this book has not become as popular as James and the Giant Peach which was made into a movie and written by the same author. This was far far better and I think should be required reading for every child. Also the words used by the author will probably challenge the average reader and might possibly require a dictionary sometimes to be nearby. Which is not bad either.

Unfortunately it does not seem to be in hard back. A book you'd want to keep in your library even after your children are grown. Mine are now 19 and 17, so I am buying it for gifts for other children. Excellent book!!!

Great Story!
Imagine that you are the Chief Guard of the King's treasury and things are disappearing from the treasury. Now imagine that you are falsely accused of taking things from the treasury by all your friends. Last, imagine you are forced to run away and live in a cave in the woods with home-made furniture and shoes. If this sounds interesting to you, you should read The Real Thief because all of these things happen and more!

The Real Thief - cute characters, cute story!
A book about a Chief Guard (Gawain the Goose) in the Kingdom of King Basil (a bear) who is falsly accused of stealing. Find out who the real thief is in this cute story filled with different animal characters and a neat plot! Another fun read! ... Read more

Book Description

In the further adventures of the hero from the Newbery Honor-winning Doctor De Soto, the diminutive dentist is summoned by cablegram to Africa to aid Mudambo, an elephant with an unbearable toothache.

Children's Choices for 1993 (IRA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Doctor DeSoto, well-traveled mouse dentist!
William Steig's inimitable mouse creation, Doctor DeSoto, goes on a wonderful adventure in this wonderful book. Along with his able assistant and wife, Deborah, he travels via ocean liner to Africa to see about fixing the tooth of an ailing elephant. While there, the DeSotos get into all sorts of difficulties, all of which are vividly, colorfully illustrated by Steig.

Steig has a wonderful way with artwork, as those who love him already know, but he has an equally uncanny knack with narrative. Eschewing simple phrases and tiny words, he throws around plot and dialogue with great vim and vigor and his enthusiasm and childlike view of this mouse couple are infectious. Highly recommended!

My kids love this book!
My children, ages 4 & 5, borrowed this book from our library, and immediately were entranced, asking me to read it over and over again.

Enjoyable book.
I enjoyed this book in general but worried about the depiction of the Indian monkey with no morals. Was he supposed to model the stereotype many African peoples have of Indian immigrants to Africa? In several countries, Indians were blamed for a country's problems and driven out. Is William Steig predjudiced against Indians?

I Wish I Had A Dentist Like Dr. De Soto
William Steig never disappoints me. And our whole family loves Dr. De Soto. The good vs. evil in Steigs books are similar to that of fairy tales. Dr. De Soto and his wife are gentle & good mice. And willing to help other animals even when it is not the most convienent thing for them to do.

A find for the parent whose child demands repeat readings!
Most children want to hear a storybook over and over again, which quickly becomes tedious for even the most indulgent parent. William Steig is one of the few children's authors who has managed to write books that children adore and adults enjoy, even when they can be recited from memory. The adventures of Dr. Bernard De Soto and his wife Deborah are interesting and surprising. The illustrations are guaranteed to make both child and reader smile. Steig is most masterful in his use of words: he picks words that are not commonly heard, especially by children ("an ill-bred pachyderm with a preposterious schnozzola"), and the words he chooses are fun to say and to hear! My two year old loves to hear me say "Honkitonk", "Mudambo", "yes indeedle-de-doe" and "gold walulus". My six year old gets a thrill from hearing someone called a "moron", and learning about Caruso. I like the drawings of Mrs. Mudambo, an elephant who wears earrings and a necklace. If you are searching for books that will satisfy a child's voracious appetite for repeated stories, check out William Steig's Dr. De Soto Goes to Africa. It just may keep you sane until your child learns to read! ... Read more