Biographical Information
William Steig, a cartoonist/children's book author and illustrator, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 14th, 1907. He grew up with a creative family, who had a love for the fine arts, which inspired him to become an artist. Although Steig dabbled in the other arts, such as scultping, he was particularly interested in drawing cartoons. With Steig's artistic talents he attended City College, and The National Academy of Design. He began his career by becoming a cartoonist for The New Yorker in 1930. He contributed more than 1600 cartoons to The New Yorker which led Newsweek to label him "The King of Cartoons".
Recruited by fellow New Yorker cartoonist, Bob Kraus, William Steig only published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, at the age of 61. Since then Steig published more than 30 children's picture books, until his death in 2003.
"Among the things that affected me most profoundly as a child - and consequently as an adult - were certain works of art: Grimm's fairy tales, Charlie Chaplin movies, Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel, the Katzenjammer Kids,Pinocchio. Pinocchio especially. I can still remember after this long stretch of time the turmoil of emotions, the excitement, the fears, the delights, and the wonder with which I followed Pinocchio's adventures."
William Steig's trademark illustration style, using water colors, and pen with an effortless line work help to tell his witty and humorous stories that use rich language. The themes of each of his books seem to reflect Steig's own idea of the need for loving, and caring family and friends. This theme is easily detected when majority of his characters who are lost in some way or another always get reunited with their loved ones in the end. His books often drew on the essence of a childlike mindset and centered on the value of the natural world, and believing in yourself. Steig often wrote books where the underdog, whether it be a talking animal, beast, or human rises up as the hero. An example of this is Steig's Shrek, which was later turned into a major DreamWorks film. Although his characters, setting, or magical themes may not have always been realistic, the situations they were often put in reflected very real human concerns.
Books Published
For a complete list of William Steig's published children's books click on the link below
Awards
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner (Picture Books): 1999
Pete's a Pizza
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner: 1998
A Handful of Beans
(Illustrator)
Reading Magic Awards Winner: 1994
Zeke Pippin
Cine Golden Eagle: 1984
National Book Award (picture books, hardcover): 1983
Doctor de Soto
Hans Christina Andersen Medal:
1982 U.S. Candidate for Illustration
1988 U.S. Candidate for Writing
Irma Simonton Black Award: 1980
Gorky Rises
William Allen White Children's Book Award: 1975
Dominic
Christopher Award: 1973
Dominic
Caldecott Medal: 1970
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Premio Di Letteratura per I'infanzia (Italy)
The Silver Pencil Award (Netherlands)
The Prix de la Fondation de France
Honors:
Caldecott Honor:
Dominic, The Real Thief, The Amazing Bone
Newberry Honor:
Abel's Island, Doctor De Soto
Pete's a Pizza
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner: 1998
A Handful of Beans
(Illustrator)
Reading Magic Awards Winner: 1994
Zeke Pippin
Cine Golden Eagle: 1984
National Book Award (picture books, hardcover): 1983
Doctor de Soto
Hans Christina Andersen Medal:
1982 U.S. Candidate for Illustration
1988 U.S. Candidate for Writing
Irma Simonton Black Award: 1980
Gorky Rises
William Allen White Children's Book Award: 1975
Dominic
Christopher Award: 1973
Dominic
Caldecott Medal: 1970
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Premio Di Letteratura per I'infanzia (Italy)
The Silver Pencil Award (Netherlands)
The Prix de la Fondation de France
Honors:
Caldecott Honor:
Dominic, The Real Thief, The Amazing Bone
Newberry Honor:
Abel's Island, Doctor De Soto
Online Resources
This website offers biographical information about William Steig, a list of awards that he won over the years, a list of his published books and an audio book of Shrek!
http://us.macmillan.com/author/williamsteig
This website also offers a list of smaller awards that William Steig has won and biographical information.
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_steig_william.html
This website offers a full obituary of William Steig, including a detail biography.
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/resources/longbox/60/
This website gives a list of fun activities and lesson that can be done when teaching about William Steig
http://teachers.net/lessons/search/?q=william+steig&sa.x=0&sa.y=0
This website also gives examples of things that can be done during your author study and other activities and lessons
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/search/teacher?query=william+steig&as_values_07671=&channelOnly=true
Books Used in Author Study
When Everybody Wore a Hat is an auto biography that William Steig wrote about very basic and simple parts of his childhood. Steig's writing in this book is witty and easily followed. He writes in a very simple and personal manner that any child could model and build their own writing from.
Activities for 2nd Grade
Activity 1:
Cause and Effect
After reading Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, use a graphic organizer to show cause and effect. Identify a few examples, have students fill out the rest of the graphic organizer together.
Sylvester collects rocks He finds a red, shiny pebble.
Sylvester wished the rain would stop. It ceases.
Sylvester sees a lion He is frightened.
He is frightened He wishes he is a rock
Parents were worried They looked for Sylvester
Sylvester was lost Parents went to police
Parents found pebble Mother wished for Duncan
Duncan found Everybody happy
Activity 2:
Compare and Contrasting Characters
Irene is a brave, loving, self-sacrificing young girl who would do anything for her widowed mother, while Spinky is a spoiled, whiny little boy who can't seem to appreciate the loving family that he has.
Using a Venn Diagram compare and contrast the character values found in Brave Irene and Spinky Sulks.
Activity 3:
Story Map
Students will use a story map to identify story elements (characters, setting, plot, tension, and theme) of Shriek!
If all students have seen the movie you can also compare and contrast the elements.
Can also try to identify common themes in all books presented during author study.
Activity 4:
Related Writing
Ask students if they can remember a time when they were confronted with overwhelming circumstances, but like Irene in Brave Irene, they kept going and persevered. Ask students what their motivation was, and how they felt during and after the incident. Have students identify and discuss the traits and characteristics that helped Irene succeed. Have students write their responses and share with the class.
Activity 5:
Biography
Usually during an author study students find it exciting to write a letter to the author. Unfortunately William Steig passed away in 2003 so this is an activity that students would not be able to take part in. Instead the teacher reads When Everybody Wore a Hat by: William Steig. This is an autobiographical piece that talks about William Steig's life as a child. After the author study is over children can each write a tribute to William Steig, explaining what they like best about his books. A writing activity that students could do would be to write their own auto biographies. Explain to students what a biography is before reading When Everybody Wore a Hat. Show students how to make a timeline of their life and how to write an auto biography using that timeline.
Read Alouds of Published Books
Dr. De Soto
Brave Irene
Read by Al Gore
Read by Al Gore
Sylvester and The Magic Pebble
Amos and Boris
Shrek!
Pete's a Pizza