William Steig
William H. Steig was an influential American cartoonist and children's author, born on November 14, 1907, in New York City. Growing up in the Bronx in a family with Socialist beliefs, Steig was encouraged to pursue art from an early age. He studied at City College and the National Academy of Design, eventually becoming a regular contributor to *The New Yorker* in 1930. Despite his initial aspirations to be a sailor, he dedicated himself to his art, showcasing his work in various prominent galleries and gaining recognition for his cartoons.
Steig began writing and illustrating children's literature in 1968, with his first book, *Roland the Minstrel Pig*, leading to a successful career that included beloved characters such as the ogre Shrek. His storytelling combined imagination with sardonic humor, appealing to both children and adults alike. Over his career, Steig received numerous accolades, including the Caldecott Medal for *Sylvester and the Magic Pebble* and several other prestigious awards for his contributions to children's literature. He passed away on October 3, 2003, leaving behind a legacy marked by creativity and literary excellence.
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Subject Terms
William Steig
Artist
- Born: November 14, 1907
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
- Died: October 3, 2003
- Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts
Biography
William H. Steig was born on November 14, 1907, in New York City to house painter Joseph Steig and seamstress Laura Ebel Steig. Their Socialist beliefs influenced his childhood in the Bronx. Steig’s parents, who had emigrated from Europe, were fluent in four languages, attended operas, and approved art careers for their children. Interested in working as a cartoonist, Steig studied at New York’s City College from 1923 to 1925, and then attended the National Academy of Design in New York until 1929.
Although he dreamed of being a sailor, Steig sought opportunities to earn money for his family during the Depression. In 1930, The New Yorker printed his cartoons and became a consistent source of income. The Downtown Gallery in New York hosted a show featuring Steig’s work in 1939. The next year, Smith College displayed Steig’s art at its Northampton, Massachusetts, gallery. The Brooklyn Museum and Rhode Island Museum placed Steig’s art in their exhibits. Publishers printed collections of Steig’s comical work.
In 1936, Steig married Elizabeth Mead. They had a daughter and son before divorcing. He married his second wife, Kari Homestead, in 1950, and had one daughter. They divorced in 1963. His marriage to his third wife, Stephanie Healey, lasted from 1964 to 1966. Steig married his fourth wife, Jeanne Doron, in 1969. Steig died on October 3, 2003, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Steig first wrote and illustrated children’s literature in 1968 when cartoonist colleague Bob Kraus, who established Windmill Books, encouraged him. Steig wrote Roland the Minstrel Pig, initiating a prolific creation of children’s titles and characters, often featuring anthropomorphic animals and including the ogre Shrek. Steig revealed that he completed sketching a cartoon in approximately fifteen minutes, but preparing the text for his books required almost a week, in addition to one month for the accompanying art. He found achieving a continuity of images throughout his books and assuring the relevance of illustrations to the text demanding.
Critics and reviewers praised Steig’s imagination and sardonic humor, which he expressed both in his text and illustrations and which appealed to children and adults. He received many awards for his cartoons and books. In 1970, the American Library Association presented Steig the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, which won other honors, including the 1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Steig’s Amos and Boris received several awards in 1971, including a National Book Award nomination and The New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His Dominic won the 1972 Christopher Award and was nominated for the 1973 National Book Award. The Real Thief was the 1973 The New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. Abel’s Island, the 1976 New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year, won the 1977 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was a Newbery Honor Book. Steig’s The Amazing Bone was a 1977 Caldecott Honor Book. Doctor De Soto won a 1983 American Book Award and was a Newbery Honor Book. Steig received two nominations for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, honoring his picture-book creation.