New Release Books by William Steig

From Caldecott Medal–winning New Yorker cartoonist William Steig comes a classic puzzle book that will delight young readers as they sound out the coded sentences! U can read this, S? S E-Z! This vibrant and delightful picture book invites little ones to sound out words using the names of letters. Using these gramograms, they can C D B (see the bee) and more!

Caldecott Medal Winner This deluxe edition of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble truly recaptures that magic for a whole new generation of readers—featuring retouched, vibrant illustrations and William Steig’s moving Caldecott Medal acceptance speech. One 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 own donkey self makes a story that is beautifully tender and perfectly joyful.

When Caleb finds himself transformed into a dog and is unable to tell his wife his true identity, he decides to become her companion.

"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!"--

An apprentice alchemist finds that his despised kid brother is the only one who can help him when he concocts a potion which makes him the size of a peanut.

The Zabajaba Jungle is amazing. Its flora and fauna are like nothing ever seen before. Leonard is the first human who has ever entered the jungle, and perils lie in wait behind each bush. But he has a large knife and is brave, and with his cunning and the help of some animal friends, Leonard makes his way through this dreamy land of adventure. The Zabajaba Jungle is a classic picture book by Shrek creator William Steig.

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. This is the original 1984 edition, with black-and-white drawings. Also included is an answer key at the end.

Madame Tarsal''s prediction that garbage collector Tiffky Doofky will meet his true love before sunset is upset by a bad-tempered witch, whose spell takes Tiffky far from Popville and very close to sundown.

Doctor de Soto, a dentist who also happens to be a mouse, is the best dentist in town. He treats animals of all shapes and sizes - that is, except for "cats and other dangerous animals". When a fox appears in his surgery with bad toothache, kind-hearted Doctor de Soto agrees to help. But is he foolish to trust a fox? Could a small mouse outwit the foxiest of animals? This modern classic is full of mischief, warmth and humour.

The wagon ride from town is so hazardous that Farmer Palmer, a pig, and Ebenezer, an ass, barely make it home again.

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?

Steig''s witty dialectic on the nature of existence. As a yellow and a pink puppet bask in the sun, allowing their paint to dry, they try to determine where they came from. But as soon as they''ve settled on a solution, a strange man unsettles their theory.

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 Spinky Sulks is a 1988 New York Times Book Review Notable Children''s Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year. Spinky is convinced that his family hates him and goes off to sulk in his hammock. His brother and sister try to make amends. His mom even brings him a beautiful tray of food. But nothing can get Spinky to stop sulking—not even a circus passing by on his street! Will Spinky ever cheer up? Spinky Sulks is another delightful tale from the incomparable William Steig that will leave readers of all ages smiling. NARRATED by MERYL STREEP.

When Caleb finds himself transformed into a dog and is unable to tell his wife his true identity, he decides to become her companion. Caleb and Kate is a 1977 New York Times Book Review Notable Children''s Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year and a 1978 National Book Award Finalist for Children''s Literature.

Pete is in a bad mood. It''s raining and he can''t play out. But never fear, Pete''s dad has just the idea to cheer Pete up - turn him into a pizza! He kneads the dough, adds oil and tomatoes, and with some tickles and giggles along the way, before long the sun comes out... A picture book classic from the creator of Shrek; a laugh-out-loud celebration of parents everywhere.

It''s a bright and beautiful spring day, and Pearl, a pig, is dawdling on her way home from school. Most unexpectedly, she strikes up an acquaintance with a small bone. "You talk?" says Pearl. "In any language," says the bone. "And I can imitate any sound there is." (Its former owner was a witch.) Pearl and the bone immediately take a liking to each other, and before you know it she is on her way home with the bone in her purse, left open so they can continue their conversation. Won''t her parents be surprised when she introduces her talking bone! But before that happy moment comes, the resourceful bone must deal with a band of highway robbers in Halloween masks and, worse, a fox who decides that Pearl will be his main course at dinner that night. And deal it does, with gambits droll and thrilling. William Steig, incomparable master of the contemporary picture book, has never been better than in The Amazing Bone. The Amazing Bone is a 1976 New York Times Book Review Notable Children''s Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1977 Caldecott Honor Book, and a 1977 Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards Honor Book for Picture Books.

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.

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 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.

The charming story of a loyal and wrongly-accused goose, with delightful illustrations by the author Gawain is a kind, honest goose. He loves King Basil very much, and while he does sometimes long for his pond and his prize cabbages, he carries out his duties as Chief guard of the Royal treasury with utmost diligence. But then, one day, the treasure starts to disappear. As only Gawain and King Basil have the keys, and the king is beyond reproach, all eyes turn to the miserable goose. Much as Gawain protests, much as he professes his innocence, it is not to be: he is found guilty. While Gawain languishes in self-imposed exile, the real thief realises that he has done an awful wrong. But does he have what it takes to confess? Can he clear the poor goose''s name and restore harmony to a kingdom? William Steig (1907-2003) was an American author and illustrator of award-winning books for children. His work started appearing in the New Yorker in 1930, and he continued to draw cartoons and illustrations for them for the next seven decades. His books include Shrek!, on which the films of the same name are based, Abel''s Island and Domninic, both published by Pushkin Children''s. He twice received the Newbery Honor, was awarded the Caldecott Medal, and was the US nominee for both of the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Awards, as a children''s book illustrator in 1982 and a writer in 1988.

Solomon the bunny can turn himself into a rusty nail! "Steig combines a tale of uncanny transformation with his distinctively animated illustrations...Children will love this bizarre tale with its humorous drawings and lively sense of fun." --Pointer, Kirkus Reviews "Beautifully written and illustrated by paintings reflecting the sunny colors of spring...A classic by a peerless artist."--Publishers Weekly

This ebook includes audio narration. 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. NARRATED by MERYL STREEP.

Wizzil the witch is bored stiff and out to cause trouble at Frimp Farm. Little does she know that she will meet her match in Mr DeWitt Frimp. As the two compete in the battle of revenge, they soon realise that there''s more to life . . . Two masters of picture books, William Steig and Quentin Blake, have collaborated to create a brilliantly funny tale about an unlikely friendship. You will not be disappointed.