Amos & Boris

William Steig; Illustrated by the author

Square Fish

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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 sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue. And there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life at sea and Amos has gone back to life on dry land, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.
 
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.

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Reviews

Praise for Amos & Boris

“There is no question that Steig’s affectionately witty pictures and perfectly complementary narration make this a durable picture book friendship.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The book is funny and earnest, pellucid and profound.”—The New York Times Book Review

*  “A simple, matter-of-fact story about the friendship between a mouse and a whale. . . . Lovely watercolor pictures and a funny, well-written text which presents its plot coincidences in tongue-in-cheek manner fit together admirably in this faintly Aesopian tale.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

Reviews from Goodreads

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Simon  rated it  
Aug 30, 2011
William Steig was enthusiastically recommended to me years ago by a relative, for my children, and we now have a number of his books. One of my favourites is Amos & Boris, where an industrious little mouse sets off on an intrepid voyage across the sea, with unexpected results.

The mouse ...more
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Shannon  rated it  
Jun 28, 2011
Oh! Oh! My heart! An aquatic version of Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse. Wonderful. Great art, lovely language. ...more
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Charlotte  rated it  
Jun 13, 2011
"He began to wonder what it would be like to drown. Would it take very long? Would it feel just awful?"

Amazing! This story, of two mamamals from very different walks of life, somehow manages to be both dark and uplifting. ...more
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About the Author

William Steig; Illustrated by the author

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968.  In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing.  Stieg also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life.  He died in Boston at the age of 95.

William Steig

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William Steig

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Available Formats and Book Details

Amos & Boris
William Steig; Illustrated by the author

Award

American Library Association Notable Children's Books, New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Books of the Year, New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year, New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year, Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

Trade Paperback

Trade Paperback
Square Fish
September 2009
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780312535667
ISBN10: 031253566X
Picture Book
10 3/8 x 9 inches, 32 pages, Full-color illustrations throughout
Age Range: 5 to 8
Grade Range: k to 3 Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians

$6.99

Hardcover

Hardcover
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
January 1971
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780374302788
ISBN10: 0374302782
Picture Book
10 3/8 x 9 inches, 32 pages, Color illustrations
Age Range: 5 to 8
Grade Range: k to 3 Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians


Lexile: AD690LL
F&P Level A-Z: O

$17.99

Trade Paperback

Trade Paperback
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Sunburst Paperbacks
September 1992
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780374403607
ISBN10: 0374403600
Picture Book
10 3/8 x 9 inches, 32 pages, Three-color pictures throughout
Age Range: 5 to 8
Grade Range: p to 3 Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians


Lexile: AD690LL
F&P Level A-Z: O

$6.95
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