Steig, << styg, >> William (1907-2003), an American cartoonist and children’s author, won the 1970 Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. This story tells about a donkey named Sylvester and his adventures after he finds a magic pebble that can grant wishes. Steig wrote and illustrated the story.
Steig was born on Nov. 14, 1907, in New York City . He began his career in 1930 as a cartoonist and contributed cartoons to many magazines, particularly The New Yorker. During his career, he created thousands of cartoons as well as more than 100 covers for The New Yorker. Steig did not begin to write and illustrate children’s stories until he reached the age of 61. He published more than 30 books. His other children’s books include Roland the Minstrel Pig (1968), C D B! (1968), Abel’s Island (1976), Gorky Rises (1980), Doctor DeSoto (1983), and the autobiographical When Everybody Wore a Hat (2003). Steig’s 1990 children’s book Shrek! inspired a series of popular animated motion pictures, beginning in 2001. Steig died on Oct. 3, 2003.
