World Literary Awards

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William Steig

ウィリアム・スタイグ

Wiriamu Suteigu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1907-11-14 (New York City (Brooklyn), U.S.)
Died
2003-10-03 (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) age 95
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Brooklyn, New York → The Bronx, New York → 75½ Bedford Street, Manhattan

Career

Occupations
cartoonist, illustrator, children's book writer
Active Years
1930-2003
Affiliations
The New Yorker
Nominations
Hans Christian Andersen Award nominee, illustrator (1982), Hans Christian Andersen Award nominee, writer (1988), National Book Award finalist (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, 1970), National Book Award finalist (Dominic, 1973), National Book Award finalist (Caleb + Kate, 1978)

Education

Townsend Harris High School
General
Period: ~15歳卒業
Year of Graduation: 1922
Country: United States
Graduated at age 15
City College of New York
Period: 2年間
Country: United States
Attended for 2 years, no degree
National Academy of Design
Art
Period: 3年間
Country: United States
Attended for 3 years, no degree
Yale School of Art
Art
Period: 5日間
Country: United States
Dropped out after 5 days

Awards

Caldecott Medal
1970
Work: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Category: 絵本
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result: Winner
National Book Award
1983
Work: Doctor De Soto
Category: 絵本部門
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: Winner
CINE Golden Eagle
1984
Work: Doctor De Soto (film)
Category: 教育部門
Organization: CINE
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Shrek!

1990 Children's picture book

A humorous picture book featuring the ugly green ogre Shrek, basis for the DreamWorks film series.

adventurefriendshiphumor
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] Shrek / Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson (2001)
  • [Animated film] Shrek 2 / Andrew Adamson (2004)

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

1969 Children's picture book

A donkey named Sylvester finds a magic pebble. Caldecott Medal winner.

familymagictransformation

Doctor De Soto

1982 Children's picture book

Humorous story of mouse dentist Doctor De Soto and fox patient. National Book Award winner.

professional ethicswitempathy
Adaptations
  • [Animated short film] Doctor De Soto / Michael Sporn (1984)

Abel's Island

1976 Children's novel

Mouse Abel shipwrecked on an island.

survivallovecourage
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] Abel's Island (1988)

Bibliography

  • Man About Town
  • About People
  • How to Become Extinct
  • The Lonely Ones
  • All Embarrassed
  • Small Fry
  • Persistent Faces
  • Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
  • Till Death Do Us Part
  • Listen, Little Man!
  • Giggle Box
  • The Rejected Lovers
  • Dreams of Glory
  • Poker for Fun and Profit
  • Common Sense in Poker
  • Continuous Performance
  • Roland the Minstrel Pig
  • CDB!
  • The Bad Island (later Rotten Island)
  • Amos and Boris
  • Dominic
  • The Real Thief
  • Farmer Palmer's Wagon Ride
  • Abel's Island
  • The Amazing Bone
  • Caleb + Kate
  • Tiffky Doofky
  • Gorky Rises
  • Doctor De Soto
  • CDC?
  • Ruminations
  • Yellow & Pink
  • Solomon, The Rusty Nail
  • Brave Irene
  • The Zabajaba Jungle
  • Spinky Sulks
  • Shrek!
  • Strutters & Fretters
  • Alpha Beta Chowder
  • Doctor De Soto Goes to Africa
  • Zeke Pippin
  • The Toy Brother
  • A Handful of Beans
  • Pete's a Pizza
  • Made for Each Other
  • Wizzil
  • A Gift from Zeus
  • Potch & Polly
  • When Everybody Wore a Hat

Adaptations

  • Shrek film series
  • Doctor De Soto animated short
  • Abel's Island animated film

Style & Themes

Literary Style
humorous satireconcise prosevivid illustrations
Recurring Motifs
anthropomorphic animalssolitude and discoverywit and humor

Legacy

Renowned children's book author and illustrator, best known for Shrek! inspiring a billion-dollar film franchise. Contributed over 2,600 drawings to The New Yorker as the 'King of Cartoons'.

In Popular Culture

  • Creator of Shrek!, basis for blockbuster film franchise

Quotes

  • It's vulgar, it's disgusting — and I loved it.
    Source: Comment on the Shrek! movie (2001)

Trivia

  • Hailed as the 'King of Cartoons' by The New Yorker.
  • His cartoon character Poor Pitiful Pearl became a popular doll line starting in 1956.
  • Began writing children's books at age 61.
  • Married four times and had three children.