The text is intelligent, and its author assumes that his readers, young though they may be, are likewise intelligent. Originally published in 1971, William Steig's Amos & Boris, which offers a delightful oceanic remake of the classic Aesopic fable of The Lion and the Mouse, is as close to perfect as a picture-book can be, pairing an engaging story about an unlikely friendship between a mouse and a whale, with charming illustrations that are all the more evocative for their simplicity.

Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His books for children also include Dominic The Real Thief The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist.

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based.

Amos and boris book