Before Shrek made it big on the silver screen, there was William Steig’s Shrek!, a book about an ordinary ogre who leaves his swampy childhood home to go out and see the world. Ordinary, that is, if a foul and hideous being who ends up marrying the most stunningly ugly princess on the planet is what you consider ordinary.
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"Read with Dylan. Actually, I was more impressed than he, despite his being ten years younger. I suppose he wanted it to be the movie but on the page. I liked it and found it entertaining, but the movie (the sequels not so much) was better. "
— Lauren (4 out of 5 stars)
“Sure to enchant any child.”
— Washington Post“Steig’s epigrammatic genius is given full rein in this engrossing and satisfying tale.”
— Publishers Weekly" Shrek, a scary green ogre, sets out into the world for adventure to find his princess in the castle. This is a great book for children that like twisted fairytales. Rhythmic verses which helps new readers. "
— Cheryl, 2/15/2014" this is where it all started! "
— pati, 2/15/2014" Has a swearword - used doubly as a swearword and literally. "
— Jenni, 2/13/2014" Shrek turns 20 this year! Before he was in movies, he was in a horrible, unpleasant ogre in a kids' book. He's almost more lovable on paper! Check him out at your library! "
— Melissa, 2/9/2014" My son was afraid of the audio book and they do use some language like "stupid" and Jack a**" that I wouldn't want my young ones repeating. "
— Heather, 1/26/2014" We checked this out of the library before the movie was even out. Garrett loved it! "
— Rachel, 1/18/2014" not really like the movie....but i <3ed william steig story books when i was younger "
— $^u+!, 1/17/2014" GO SHREK!!! "
— ☆☆lauren, 1/13/2014" i read this in enrichment and it waz awesome because Mrs.Close pointed everything out and it seemed better that way "
— Grace, 12/5/2013" he has a nightmare that he is in field of flowers with children running around hugging and kissing him. maitri loved that this was his 'nightmare.' maitri has a dark side, it gives her her edge, i guess.... "
— Maitri, 8/21/2013" The book upon which the movie is based. "
— Debra, 4/13/2013" This book was just ok. The shrek in this book was a lot more negative than the shrek from the movies. I think the kids will not like this book because it is so different from the shrek they are used to. "
— Jillian, 8/21/2012" One of the best read alouds for kids, ever. "
— Connie, 4/14/2012" The book is far superior to the movie. Love the book, love the movie but they are two different creatures. "
— Dave, 1/19/2012" I'm a huge fan of the first two Shrek movies, and while I know that books are never like the movies, this one was particularly different. But still adorably, hilariously, wonderful all the same. "
— Lindsay, 11/30/2011" Only watched the movie but I want to buy and maybe read the book :) "
— Danyka, 9/21/2011" It's funny to me that this is the book that inspired the movies. The movies are much better. "
— Amberly, 8/30/2011" Nothing like the movies which followed, but enjoyable nonetheless. Good for kids with gross-out sense of humor. "
— Joe, 7/23/2011" I wish the Shrek movie was more like the actual story in this wonderful book. "
— Terran, 6/14/2011" Cute book.Love it! :D "
— Steph, 6/12/2011" This book was cute...it's interesting to me to see what Dreamworks did with it in terms of adapting an existing story. Robby liked it, but didn't ask for it a second time...that, to me, is very telling. "
— Pauline, 12/30/2010" Has a swearword - used doubly as a swearword and literally. "
— Jenni, 12/2/2010" I don't like it as much as the movie, maybe because I saw the movie before I read the book. Not my favorite Steig book, but fun to see the original story. "
— Sarah, 8/17/2010" Shrek turns 20 this year! Before he was in movies, he was in a horrible, unpleasant ogre in a kids' book. He's almost more lovable on paper! Check him out at your library! "
— Melissa, 5/28/2010" Very cute, but very different from the movie. <br/>The book is a cute little poke at fairy tales, while the movie, while fun, has been seriously padded out and sweetened up. <br/> <br/> "
— Travis, 4/9/2010" One of the best read alouds for kids, ever. "
— Connie, 2/22/2010" Not a long book, but a fun story. Lots of adventure and tomfoolery. <br/> <br/>Anyone looking for a book version of the movie is going to be disappointed. I'd recommend it for anyone who can separate book from movie. "
— Keeko, 12/6/2009" We checked this out of the library before the movie was even out. Garrett loved it! "
— Rachel, 10/11/2009" i read this in enrichment and it waz awesome because Mrs.Close pointed everything out and it seemed better that way "
— Grace, 8/12/2009William Steig (1907–2003) published his first children’s book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968 and received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble in 1970. His works also include The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book, as well as Abel’s Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. His book Shrek! was released by DreamWorks as a feature film and was immensely popular.
Stanley Tucci is an actor, writer, director, and producer. He has directed five films and appeared in over seventy films, countless television shows, and a dozen plays on and off Broadway. He has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and a spoken word Grammy; is a winner of two Golden Globes and two Emmys; and has received numerous other critical and professional awards and accolades. He is also author of two cookbooks, The Tucci Table and The Tucci Cookbook.