(2) K-3 In Roland, Steig's first book for children, a medieval wandering-minstrel pig almost gets roasted by a fox. Zabajaba is a present-tense tale of a boy's exploration of a fantastical jungle. In Toy Brother, Charles's big brother Yorick shrinks himself in their father's lab. Steig's cartoonish illustrations and jolly texts make it clear that though these stories involve danger, they're each set in a playful world. Review covers these titles: Roland the Minstrel Pig, The Toy Brother, and The Zabajaba Jungle.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: August, 1968; November, 2016

(2) K-3 In Roland, Steig's first book for children, a medieval wandering-minstrel pig almost gets roasted by a fox. Zabajaba is a present-tense tale of a boy's exploration of a fantastical jungle. In Toy Brother, Charles's big brother Yorick shrinks himself in their father's lab. Steig's cartoonish illustrations and jolly texts make it clear that though these stories involve danger, they're each set in a playful world. Review covers these titles: Roland the Minstrel Pig, The Toy Brother, and The Zabajaba Jungle.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1996; November, 2016

(2) K-3 In Roland, Steig's first book for children, a medieval wandering-minstrel pig almost gets roasted by a fox. Zabajaba is a present-tense tale of a boy's exploration of a fantastical jungle. In Toy Brother, Charles's big brother Yorick shrinks himself in their father's lab. Steig's cartoonish illustrations and jolly texts make it clear that though these stories involve danger, they're each set in a playful world. Review covers these titles: Roland the Minstrel Pig, The Toy Brother, and The Zabajaba Jungle.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) K-3 Steig's classic tells of donkey Sylvester's acquisition of a wish-granting red stone--and what happens after he accidentally turns himself into a rock. A remarkable atmosphere of childlike innocence pervades the book; beautiful pictures greatly extend the kindly humor and the warm, unselfconscious tenderness. This paper-over-board edition, which includes Steig's Caldecott acceptance speech, is notable for its bargain price.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: June, 1969

(3) K-3 Just in time for the new Shrek movie comes this thick, large-format volume that includes Shrek! (1990), The Amazing Bone (1976), Brave Irene (1986), Spinky Sulks (1988), Doctor De Soto (1982), and Caleb & Kate (1977), plus an introduction by Eric Carle and a concluding "About the Author" section. Readers sucked in by the movie tie-in will be charmed and amused by Steig's five other picture-book classics.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Illustrated by Teryl Euvremer. When his parents take him on a picnic, Toby pretends to be various animals. His parents play along, even turning the tables on their son when they get home. Steig's Toby books--including Toby, Where Are You? and Toby, What Are You?--are perfect showcases for his mischievously matter-of-fact narration, which is complemented by Euvremer's gauzy images in summertime hues.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 "Grown-ups look in the mirror a lot"; "Grown-ups always have to know what time it is." In a series of biting cartoonlike watercolors, captions point out the quirks and foibles of grownups. Steig cuts to the quick, but here the only objects of his wit are adults--a point acknowledged by the publication of this smaller gift-book edition of the original picture book.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(2) 4-6 Somewhat more sophisticated in content than its companion volume, C D B!, this classic word-game picture book (in which single letters and numerals are strung together to make sentences 4 U 2 decode) contains newly colorized illustrations. Still X L N fun, the book includes an answer key, but no P K N if you can help it.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1985

(3) 1-3 Two wooden dolls, one painted yellow, the other pink, confront the mystery of who they are and where they might have come from. Steig's black-and-white illustrations, with splashes of yellow and pink, capture in just a few lines the essence of these two questing souls.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz

(2) K-3 In this clear-eyed, affectionate look backward, the author-illustrator remembers life in 1916, when he was eight years old. Some of his memories describe the era, but most are specific to his own experiences as a child of immigrants growing up in the Bronx. Each whimsical, brief reminiscence is accompanied by a watercolor and ink cartoon that blends humor and warmth in equal measure.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2003

(4) PS Illustrated by Harry Bliss. A rabbit asks a boy and girl the title question while pulling a variety of objects out of a hat. For the most part, the children make no response, choosing only to be a dog rather than a cat, a kid rather than a grownup, and, judging from their joint exit at the end, together rather than alone. While the book seems to have little point, the illustrations, which create a stage-like setting, are arresting.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jon Agee. Potch thinks its true love, Polly finds it truly impossible. After spotting Polly at a masquerade ball, Potch goes all out to win Polly's heart. He juggles eggs, they land on her head; he arranges a fireworks display, and more than the sky catches on fire. Although the prose is tedious, the cartoon illustrations are entertaining.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(3) PS Illustrated by Teryl Euvremer. Toby, the small animal from Toby, Where Are You?, keeps his parents guessing when he pretends to be a variety of things from a clothes tree to "a dangerous wild animal." The soft chalk illustrations reflect the relationship between Toby and his parents, who willingly go along with Toby's antics. This comforting story is perfect for bedtime sharing.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 This decidedly unchildlike but charming valentine to the author's beloved will delight fans of Steig's New Yorker cartoons. Declarations such as "I love the hay you walk on" and "You be the beauty, I'll be the beast" are illustrated with saucy watercolor and ink depictions of couples embracing, kicking up their heels, lazing beside a river, or just standing together, enjoying one another's company.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(2) 1-3 Steig's classic word-game picture book (in which single letters and numerals are strung together to make sentences 4 U 2 decode) has newly colorized illustrations and is still X-L-N fun. (An answer key is included, but no P-K-N if you can help it.)

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Quentin Blake. In this tale of mischief, revenge, and redemption, old Wizzil the witch turns herself into a fly to torment retired farmer DeWitt Frimp, but the two end up falling in love. Steig's language is utterly unfettered, with alliteration so thick you could spread it, and packed with savory words and phrases. Blake's illustrations, full of energy and humor and movement, are sublime.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2000

(4) K-3 Steig's Made for Each Other showcased the hearts-and-flowers side of relationships, and this companion volume does the opposite. His disenchanted, grotesquely drawn couples provide sometimes literal interpretations of animosity-laced captions, such as "He's such a dog!" The edgy yet playful material is unquestionably for adults, not children, although it is not recommended for newlyweds.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(2) K-3 Young Pete moodily contemplates a rain-drenched landscape when his understanding father decides to cheer him up by transforming him into a pizza. The recipe: plenty of kneading, stretching, and twirling, plus tickling and obviously lots of love. As always, the illustrations develop characters and situations with telling economy. A great book to share with would-be pizzas of all ages.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1998