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28th out of 762 books
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3,520 voters
Shrek!
Shrek, a horrid little ogre, goes out into the world to find adventure and along the way encounters a witch, a knight in armor, a dragon, and, finally, a hideous princess, who's even uglier than he is!
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
September 1st 1993
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
(first published 1990)
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Although I love the vocabulary words Steig uses (blithe, irascible, putrid), and I love that Shrek is truly repulsive (unlike the movie version) I do think I, personally, prefer the movie because it's more complex, nuanced, and interesting. The horrible-ness of the illustrations make the book seem like a Roald Dahl story and I would recommend it to his young fans.
This is about the delightfully dreadful Shrek--the ORIGINAL Shrek. Yes, Shrek is a hideous and vastly unpleasant (and stinky!) ogre, yes there is a donkey, and yes there is an (ugly) princess waiting to be rescued. But, the similarities between the movie end there. This is basically the tale of how Shrek goes around causing havoc, delighting in disgusting people, once he is (literally) kicked out out of the house, er, hole in the ground, by his parents. When he meets a witch who gives him a prop...more
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Shrek is a vile (but very self confident!) ogre in search of an equally repugnant bride. The illustrations are simple and sketchy, but silly and amusing in their own way. The text is engaging and there is some clever and truly hysterical dialogue. And still, I've been puzzling over this one for over a week. Does it make me an unsophisticated lout to admit that I enjoyed the movie more than the book? (They are very different from one another.) It's also one of the first books I've read to my daug...more
7 likes · like · see review
Jul 29, 2012
Dolly
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
When I first saw this kit (with a paperback book with ISBN13 9780312384494 and an audio CD with the story narrated by Robert Sevra) at our local library, I was excited. I thought that it would be interesting to see the inspiration for the famous movie saga and the fact that it was written by William Steig gave me the impression that it was sure to be good.
Overall, though, I wasn't that impressed. I listened to the CD narration while driving and our girls followed along with the book. The narrat...more
Overall, though, I wasn't that impressed. I listened to the CD narration while driving and our girls followed along with the book. The narrat...more
Summary: Shrek is horrible, ugly, foul-smelling, and he terrifies everyone he meets. One day, he meets a witch who foretells that he will meet a donkey that will take him to a castle to fight a night to get to the princess who is even uglier than he is. He goes on his journey and finds the donkey who does take him to fight the night to meet the princess. When Shrek and the princess meet, each is thrilled with the other’s ugliness and terribleness, and they wed and live horribly ever after.
Evalua...more
Evalua...more
I was very surprised to see that this book was what the movie was based off of, but this book was not as entertaining or funny as the movie. Although the plot was not much different from the movie; Shrek must make a journey to save a princess, and along the way he meets a donkey that helps him along the way, he must battle a dragon and when he meets the princess, he finds out that she is also an ogre. What I did like about the book was the language that it used and the visuals that it created in...more
This is a fun tale about a happy-go-lucky, disgusting creature. He smells so bad that plants and animals fall over. He prides himself in being ugly, and he seeks a princess who is uglier than he is. Even though he's described as ugly and mean, he smiles throughout most of the book. The only time he cries is when he's in a happy scene with children all around and lots of flowers and birds - fortunately it was only a dream. I think children would love the contradiction between creature being repul...more
"Fat raindrops began sizzling on Shrek's hot knob." -- from Shrek.
You tell me, picture book or porn?
I've only seen snippets of the film but I can't even imagine what the two have to do with one another. I usually go for odd little stories but this was more off than I'm okay with. Picture book Shrek is REALLY, really ugly and mean. He makes movie Shrek look handsome and the princess might make your kid have nightmares.
There's also a [Book: It's a Book] moment with a "jabbering jackass". Look a...more
You tell me, picture book or porn?
I've only seen snippets of the film but I can't even imagine what the two have to do with one another. I usually go for odd little stories but this was more off than I'm okay with. Picture book Shrek is REALLY, really ugly and mean. He makes movie Shrek look handsome and the princess might make your kid have nightmares.
There's also a [Book: It's a Book] moment with a "jabbering jackass". Look a...more
This is an awesome book for teaching children how to use different verbs to make their writing more exciting! William Steig is awesome!!
See ugly people can be happy too. Loved this as a child and was tickled green when they made a movie of it.
I picked up this book not knowing that it was the inspiration for the famous Shrek movies. Not very different from the movie, this ogre finds himself on a journey to discover his fortune, told to him by a witch. He encounters a donkey which helps him on his quest, battles a knight and a dragon, and finally reaches a princess who is an ogre just like him. Although the book is filled with rich, unusual language and a silly story line, I did not find it as entertaining as I was hoping. I do think t...more
This book came long before the movie. We bought it for daughter #2 (who came 14 years after #1; we have a large family, laden with sons). It is amusing in that it shows that not only fashion models, Cinderellas, and Barbie dolls get to find true love.
Shrek is not depicted as a dandy guy with a few cosmetic issues. He chortles as the flowers wilt when they see him coming. This is a very funny book, but because those who are less lovely are shown as being antithetical to nature itself, I withheld...more
Shrek is not depicted as a dandy guy with a few cosmetic issues. He chortles as the flowers wilt when they see him coming. This is a very funny book, but because those who are less lovely are shown as being antithetical to nature itself, I withheld...more
Feb 09, 2011
Robert Beveridge
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who haven't seen the movie
Recommended to Robert by:
the movie
William Steig, Shrek! (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1990)
You've been hearing debates as long as movies have been around about whether the book is better than the movie. I'm here to tell you that in 99% of cases, they're not. But there are certainly shining exceptions to that rule. Psycho. Any movie made from a Thomas Harris novel (well, okay, not Hannibal Rising). Shrek.
“Wait!”, I hear you yelling. “One of these things is not like the others!” And yeah, you're right, but whereas Hollywood seems i...more
You've been hearing debates as long as movies have been around about whether the book is better than the movie. I'm here to tell you that in 99% of cases, they're not. But there are certainly shining exceptions to that rule. Psycho. Any movie made from a Thomas Harris novel (well, okay, not Hannibal Rising). Shrek.
“Wait!”, I hear you yelling. “One of these things is not like the others!” And yeah, you're right, but whereas Hollywood seems i...more
“Shrek!” is another memorable classic book from the great mind of William Steig and it is about how Shrek, a repulsive ogre, tries to find the princess to marry after he leaves his parents’ home. “Shrek!” is a great book for children who love reading books about monsters.
William Steig has done a great job at both illustrating and writing this modern day fairy tale that is full of attitude. William Steig’s illustrations are truly beautiful and hilarious especially of the images of Shrek himself a...more
William Steig has done a great job at both illustrating and writing this modern day fairy tale that is full of attitude. William Steig’s illustrations are truly beautiful and hilarious especially of the images of Shrek himself a...more
3 likes · like · see review
Well, it's supposed to be funny. And, yes, there were certain lines that I loved from the movie that is based on this book. But the story line overall, it certainly wasn't a big winner for me. The movie definitely elaborated on the original plot in the book. But there was still a donkey (of course--it's William Steig!) and a princess. Lots of rhyming going on. It wasn't awful. I think lots of kids would like it. But young ones too familiar with the movie would probably be bored and disappointed.
William Steig's Shrek! is one of my favorite books to read aloud.
I would love it for the Pheasant, Peasant!? section alone if that were all there were to it, but thankfully it is a crazy word play throughout!
1 like · like · see review
Checked this out from the library (still at home). I was surprised at how essentially different Shrek is from the movie. But we LOVE it!!
It may be a little above preschool level, but I think my girls (ages 3 and 5) don't mind. And I like that there are words that I have to explain to them (e.g., irascible, ruddy). He does, at one point, call the donkey a jackass, and maybe some mothers of small children are uncomfortable with the word, but it does mean "male donkey," so I think it is appropriate...more
It may be a little above preschool level, but I think my girls (ages 3 and 5) don't mind. And I like that there are words that I have to explain to them (e.g., irascible, ruddy). He does, at one point, call the donkey a jackass, and maybe some mothers of small children are uncomfortable with the word, but it does mean "male donkey," so I think it is appropriate...more
Very hard to review this book.
First of all this is a children’s book, and I’m not a kid, so already there are problems. Second of all I picked this one up after watching the movie and it’s hard to read it without drawing any comparisons.
I like the message that Steig is conveying, his constant play on words is amusing, and I have to say that Shrek in the book was a slightly more memorable character. I like how care-free he is and the fact that he smiles in almost every single picture adds to the...more
First of all this is a children’s book, and I’m not a kid, so already there are problems. Second of all I picked this one up after watching the movie and it’s hard to read it without drawing any comparisons.
I like the message that Steig is conveying, his constant play on words is amusing, and I have to say that Shrek in the book was a slightly more memorable character. I like how care-free he is and the fact that he smiles in almost every single picture adds to the...more
This was actually the first time I've ever read the Steig original, and my son and I read it tag-team. The look on my child's face when I read the other word for donkey was hilarious. He was in complete shock. The original Shrek is, of course, not the huggable Shrek the kids have grown to love from the movies and this is nothing like the style of the movies. It is typical Steig, though, and definitely worth a read with the older set.
I see that the movie took many liberties with this story. I enjoyed the movie(s) a lot. This book, not as much. There were good parts. I like that Shrek just went around doing what he wanted, but I think it could have done with a little more something. Even for a children's story, I think it was lacking. Still, it's somewhat worth checking out, if only to see where the idea for the movie came from.
Shrek is a great story! I love how this is a different kind of fairy tale. It shows how the other side feels and gives a different story line than other books. Children would like this book because it keeps the reader guessing. I would use this story in my classroom to talk about difference and how judging someone is wrong. It is what is inside that matters. This book was a load of fun!
I knew it wouldn't be anything like the movies...and it wasn't. Still it it was interesting. My son kept asking me if it was Shrek V. I think it is a good exercise for kids to watch the movies, then read the book and see how they compare and where the moviemakers got the original idea.
It's also a great book to build vocabulary because there are a lot of difficult words.
It's also a great book to build vocabulary because there are a lot of difficult words.
This is a good story that many people do not even know exist; in fact, everyone to whom I have ever mentioned this book was aware only of the movie, and had no idea that the motion picture was based on the original story idea of William Steig.
The book is very, very different from the film, but many people who have seen the movie first will still find this book amusing.
The book is very, very different from the film, but many people who have seen the movie first will still find this book amusing.
Shrek is an ugly, fire spitting ogre who frightens everyone he sees. A witch foresees the future and sends Shrek on a quest to find a princess even uglier than he.
I did not enjoy this story nor the illustrations...and I consider myself to be a fan of gross things, not sure why this story didn't appeal to me.
I did not enjoy this story nor the illustrations...and I consider myself to be a fan of gross things, not sure why this story didn't appeal to me.
I enjoyed this book, it still holds the classic theme of just being happy being you. It was interesting to compare it to the movie, as far as how a donkey helps him, his happiness in meeting his bride, etc. In the film version, the theme of self confidence is definitely more prevelant.
For kid's movies, Shrek is great. Kinda feminist and all'a that. I read something about the process from book to film, so wanted to see the book. It's pretty nifty too. I should re-read and post more specifics, but it's out of my hands already. The pictures are totally ogre-y, not cutesified at ALL. I remember that much!
Shrek learns his future from the witch. He is happy to be repulsive. He remembers that magic words of Apple Strudel. If you are reading this to younger children note that he calls the donkey a jabbering jack...
Unlike most tales, Shrek and his wife "lived horribly ever after."
Unlike most tales, Shrek and his wife "lived horribly ever after."
Maybe the movies spoiled it for me. I did not like this story very much. This Shrek just revels in his hideousness. The movies are about looking beyond the exterior, and external and internal beauty. This book is not.
At least Shrek finds an equally hideous mate in the end.
At least Shrek finds an equally hideous mate in the end.
Illustrator: William Steig
Age: Elementary
Summary: The ugliest guy in town, Shrek, is out to find a mate that is just as ugly and repulsive as he is.
Applications/Uses: I don't think this book really has a place in the classroom. It might have a place in upper elementary classrooms if students were talking about the differences between original stories and their adaptations (specially their movies).
Themes/Connections: Grossology, humor
Awards: None
Age: Elementary
Summary: The ugliest guy in town, Shrek, is out to find a mate that is just as ugly and repulsive as he is.
Applications/Uses: I don't think this book really has a place in the classroom. It might have a place in upper elementary classrooms if students were talking about the differences between original stories and their adaptations (specially their movies).
Themes/Connections: Grossology, humor
Awards: None
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Ashland 566 Autum...: Picture Book 14 | 1 | 1 | Nov 14, 2012 09:28am |
William Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer...more
More about William Steig...
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer...more
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“did you ever see anybody so disgusting: said lightning to thunder, "never" thunder growled thunder, "lets give him the works”
—
19 people liked it
“And they lived horribly ever after, scaring the socks off all who fell afoul of them.”
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4 people liked it
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