Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint-Abel, for short-is a rich and silly mouse. He spends most of his days just having fun, going to picnics with his wife, playing croquet with friends, and dancing at parties. Unlike most other mice, Abel has never had to work for anything. All that changes one blustery fall day when his wife’s scarf flutters away in a gust of wind. Abel races off to rescue it and is swept away in a rainstorm. When the storm is over, Abel finds himself washed up a deserted island. To survive the winter, this pampered mouse will have to work hard at building a home and gathering food. Can he figure out a way to get off the island and return home-or is he stuck living by himself for the rest of his days? With warmth and wide-eyed enthusiasm, this Newbery Honor Book will delight young readers with an insightful tale of a mouse rising to the greatest challenge of his life.

This audio edition includes narration by Meryl Streep.

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.
Adapted into a short film in 1989 from director Daniel Ivanick.

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.

From the incomparable William Steig, creator of Shrek, comes an audio story that proves even a fox can be out-foxed by a clever mouse in Doctor De Soto, a Newbery Honor Book.

“Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work.” With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De Soto, he copes with the toothaches of animals large and small. His expertise is so great that his fortunate patients never feel any pain.

Since he’s a mouse, Doctor De Soto refuses to treat “dangerous” animals–that is, animals who have a taste for mice. But one day a fox shows up and begs for relief from the tooth that’s killing him. How can the kindhearted De Sotos turn him away? But how can they make sure that the fox doesn’t give in to his baser instincts once his tooth is fixed? Those clever De Sotos will find a way.

Doctor De Soto is a 1982 New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1983 Boston Globe – Horn Book Awards Honor Book for Picture Books, and a 1983 Newbery Honor Book.

Made into an animated short film in 1984 by American director and animator Michael Sporn.

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 a few things 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?

The New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year for 1973 and an ALA Notable Book, The Real Thief is the story of Gawain, a most honorable goose. Trustworthy and proud, Gawain is given the keys to the king’s Royal Treasury and put in charge of security. When rubies begin to disappear and the world-famous Kalikak diamond vanishes, it looks as if someone is sacking the treasury. Only the king and Gawain have the keys-and why would the king steal from himself? Now Gawain must find a way to preserve his reputation among his now sceptical friends. In the tradition of aesop and the brothers Grimm, William Steig uses animals to illustrate important human character lessons in a way that is both entertaining and poignant. A story of guilt, pride, and trust The Real Thief is one of his most touching and memorable stories, and has enchanted young and old alike.

Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint-Abel, for short-is a rich and silly mouse. He spends most of his days just having fun, going to picnics with his wife, playing croquet with friends, and dancing at parties. Unlike most other mice, Abel has never had to work for anything. All that changes one blustery fall day when his wife’s scarf flutters away in a gust of wind. Abel races off to rescue it and is swept away in a rainstorm. When the storm is over, Abel finds himself washed up a deserted island. To survive the winter, this pampered mouse will have to work hard at building a home and gathering food. Can he figure out a way to get off the island and return home-or is he stuck living by himself for the rest of his days? With warmth and wide-eyed enthusiasm, this Newbery Honor Book will delight young readers with an insightful tale of a mouse rising to the greatest challenge of his life.

This audio edition includes narration by Stanley Tucci.

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.

Ordinary, that is, if a foul and hideous being who ends up marrying the most stunningly ugly princess on the planet is what you consider ordinary.

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.

Sylvester is a rock collector. One day he finds a magic pebble that makes wishes come true. He rushes home to share his good fortune with his parents. On the way, he’s frightened by a hungry lion and quickly asks the pebble to turn him into a rock, so the lion can’t eat him. It works-but there sits Sylvester on Strawberry Hill with no way to hold the pebble to wish himself back into a donkey. Seasons come and go as Sylvester’s parents desperately search for him. One fine spring day Mom and Dad decide that a picnic on Strawberry Hill might be just the thing to cheer them up. Will Mr. and Mrs. Duncan ever guess what happened to their little donkey? Narrator John McDonough playfully conveys a wise bit of advice: be careful what you wish for. His expressive voice is perfect for entertaining young readers with the misadventures of impulsive young Sylvester.

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.

William Steig, incomparable master of the contemporary picture book, has never been better than in The Amazing Bone.

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.

Made into a short animated film voiced by John Lithgow, available on streaming and home video.

To mark the 100th birthday of William Steig and in anticipation of the next blockbuster movie Shrek the Third, Macmillan Audio presents The One and Only Shrek! the must-have collection of Steig classics featuring everyone’s favorite ogre, read by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci.

The New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year for 1973 and an ALA Notable Book, The Real Thief is the story of Gawain, a most honorable goose. Trustworthy and proud, Gawain is given the keys to the king’s Royal Treasury and put in charge of security. When rubies begin to disappear, and the world-famous Kalikak diamond vanishes, it looks as if someone is sacking the treasury. Only the king and Gawain have the keys-and why would the king steal from himself? Now Gawain must find a way to preserve his reputation among his now sceptical friends. In the tradition of aesop and the brothers Grimm, William Steig uses animals to illustrate important human character lessons in a way that is both entertaining and poignant. A story of guilt, pride, and trust The Real Thief is one of his most touching and memorable stories, and has enchanted young and old alike.

Wizzil the witch is very, very bored. When her bossy parrot suggests that she find someone to bother, Wizzil turns herself into a fly and buzzes off to do some mischief to the funky Frimp family. But mischief has a way of backfiring, and one spell often leads to another. It’s not long before Wizzil has changed so much, she can hardly recognize herself. The zany witch’s misadventures, and the sunny conclusion to her story, will quickly have you laughing out loud. Beloved author and cartoonist William Steig, winner of many Newbery and Caldecott awards, has delighted readers of all ages with books like Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and The Mud Flat Mystery. Enhanced by John McDonough’s charming narration, Wizzil is sure to be a favorite story, one you will want to share with all your friends.