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. Ordinarily, that is, if a foul and hideous being who ends up marrying the most stunningly ugly princess on the surface of the planet is what you consider ordinary. SHREK! can be found in this collection of six modern picture-book classics by Steig, along with stories concerning creatures ordinary and extraordinary—from Irene, a brave and loving little girl who must battle a howling blizzard, to Spinky, a boy who is so completely annoyed by his family that he no longer has any use for the human race. Gathered together for the first time, these entertaining stories will delight fans of Steig, both old and new.

Praise

[An] "engrossing and satisfying tale." --Publishers Weekly

"Sure to enchant any child lucky enough to read it...Such an ingratiating, cheery book that no one will be able to resist it." --The Washington Post Book World

About the Author(s)

William Steig

William Steig (1907-2003) began drawing for The New Yorker in 1930. He published his first children’s book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, and received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble in 1970. His works also include The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Abel’s Island, a Newbery Honor Book.

photo: Copyright Anne Hall

Table of Contents

Shrek!

The Amazing Bone

Brave Irene

Spinky Sulks

Doctor De Soto

Caleb & Kate