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(From today's NY Times)

A fascinating essay in today's New York Times reinforces my love for children's books and children's authors. A must read: a true fan piece spotlighting William Steig's world and the current exhibition of his work on display at The Jewish Museum here in New York. Better get thee to the exhibit soon as it ends March 16th. (Why do I feel as if I am the last to know all the good stuff?)

Things I didn't know: Steig was Brooklyn boy. (Instant rapport.) A Brooklyn Jewish boy. (Who knew?) That he sold his first cartoon to THE NEW YORKER magazine when he was 23 to help support his family. That he began publishing his children's books when he was 61 years old. (Okay. I am not giving away my age. All I am saying: there's hope, there's time, there's time! I feel better now.) ;}

Things I did know: some of his books have been my best friends as both a writer and children's book aficionado. The less-talked about, less seemingly impossible BRAVE IRENE was a story I read over and over again to my children-- and to myself. Irene was the girl I never thought I was, the girl who never gave up, despite the obstacles of the wind, the snowstorm, the darkness, the impossibilities...

If I couldn't be that girl when I was little, I am determined to be her now. {}

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From the William Steig website:


double click to enlarge

From ART KNOWLEDGE NEWS: “I often ask myself, ‘What would be an ideal life?’ – I think an ideal life would be just drawing,” William Steig said in 1992. He died in 2003 at the age of 95.

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(Illustration by William Steig )

at 5th Avenue and 92nd Street, New York, NY. Click here to download a coupon for a $2 admission discount to the exhibit

Michael Sporn at MoMA , Nov. 9th -12th
(From Sporn's film of Abel's Island, adapted from the book by William Steig-- thanks to Mark Mayerson )

Title: CDC
Written & Illustrated by: William Steig
Hardback: 64 pages
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Ages: 9-12
ISBN: 978-0374312336
Publication: September 1, 2003

CDC is an excellent book for summer fun. It combines fun pictures with puzzle-like text, allowing readers to solve the “riddles.”

CDC is a hilarious and challenging new way to sit down and enjoy a book. By combining letters to make words in untraditional ways, CDC will stretch your brain! Here are a few examples for you to try out:

C-D-C?

E-R I M!

U F B-D I-S

The book is filled with excellent pictures to help as clues, and with 57 fun riddles, this book is sure to provide endless fun. Each page has a different riddle, and all the “answers” can be found at the back of the book. But, try to avoid the temptation to keep peeking to the back of the book for the answers! Oftentimes, the “answer” will become clear if only you give yourself an extra minute to figure it out!

Try reading it with your kids, or make it into a family game. It’s almost like detective work! Find out who is the best detective in your family! You might be surprised!

Okay, are you ready for the answers? (You haven’t been peeking, have you?)

C-D-C? = See the Sea?

E-R I M! = Here I am!

U F B-D I-S = You have beady eyes.

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Reviewed by Sylvia C. Hall