Rating: 
Summary: Horrible Ogre, horrible book...
Review: My children and I both loved the movie, but the book is far from it. No real redeeming value you here. The story was dumb and gross. Shrek is an Ogre, so no real surprise I guess. W. Steig's book, "The Real Thief," on the other hand, was a gem.
Rating: 
Summary: The Original Shrek.
Review: No, this is not a book based off the blockbuster movie. In fact, this little story is where the idea for SHREK the movie came from. The story and illustrations are classic William Stieg, mixing a childlike fascination with a bizarre almost cynical, humorous look at the world. In this case, Steig takes on the fairy tale.Shrek is an ugly green ogre who can belch fire. However, one day his parents decide it's time to kick him out of the family hole in the swamp and see what mischief he can do in the world. He wanders through the woods and meets a witch who is repulsed by his stench and appearance, but agrees to tell him his future for one of his lice. She predicts that in a castle Shrek will find his true love, a princess, and live happily ever after. Along the way, Shrek runs into a talking donkey, a dragon, and an inept knight. He finally reaches the castle and meets a princess there who is more hideous than Shrek. They woo each other with monster poetry and are married at the end. The story is funny, but children who have seen the movie too many times may not find the book as amusing as they would have before. The original Shrek is a totally different kind of ogre than the one in the movie. The original Shrek is borish, hideous, and somewhat offensive. Nevertheless, this is a story that somewhat older children do enjoy and if nothing else it's worth reading to see where the idea for SHREK the movie started.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Storytelling!
Review: Once again, William Steig has created a character worthy of childhood memories. While the movie is only loosely based on the book, it's great fun nonetheless and Steig has approved of the movie treatment. The young reviewer who said the end credits indicated the movie version was based on the book by Ellen Weiss is mistaken. The movie credits clearly say "Based on the book by William Steig". The book by Weiss was written as a tie-in product to the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Not the movie, but great nonetheless!
Review: Once upon a time there was an ogre named Shrek. Uglier and nastier than any other ogre, he set out on a quest to win the hand of a princess even uglier than him. What challenges must this loathsome creature overcome to win the love of his life? I must admit that I got this book to answer some questions that I had left over from the movie of the same name. Unfortunately, there is very little that the movie and the book have in common. So, if you are looking for a book based on the movie, check out the one by Ellen Weiss. That said, however, this is a hilarious book! My seven-year-old son loved this Shrek's grossness, and laughed his way through the story. The illustrations are a little primitive, but go along with the story quite nicely. If you are into "fractured fairytales," as I am, then you must get this book!
Rating:
Summary: A fun fairy tale, but not like the movie
Review: This is the book that the movie "Shrek" is based on, and if you've read many books that were made into movies you'll know that "based on" can be a very liberal term sometimes. This is such a case. The only things that the movie and the book share are there being an ogre named Shrek, a donkey (who only appears briefly), and a princess (who is very different from the movie princess, but I don't want to ruin anything by saying more). The similarities end there. This book is a lot of fun and is filled with art such as you see in the cover picture above, and kids will love it, but the best way to sum up the differences is that the movie was something made for adults that kids will enjoy as well, while the book is something written for children that adults can enjoy. "Shrek" the book is a piece of children's literature and would be a great addition to a child's library because, like the movie, it is a non-traditional fairy tale, and it's always good to see things from someone else's point of view. Once you read one of Steig's books, you are bound to get more.
Rating:
Summary: A fun fairy tale, but not like the movie
Review: This is the book that the movie "Shrek" is based on, and if you've read many books that were made into movies you'll know that "based on" can be a very liberal term sometimes. This is such a case. The only things that the movie and the book share are there being an ogre named Shrek, a donkey (who only appears briefly), and a princess (who is very different from the movie princess, but I don't want to ruin anything by saying more). The similarities end there. This book is a lot of fun and is filled with art such as you see in the cover picture above, and kids will love it, but the best way to sum up the differences is that the movie was something made for adults that kids will enjoy as well, while the book is something written for children that adults can enjoy. "Shrek" the book is a piece of children's literature and would be a great addition to a child's library because, like the movie, it is a non-traditional fairy tale, and it's always good to see things from someone else's point of view. Once you read one of Steig's books, you are bound to get more.
Rating: 
Summary: HOW DARE. . .
Review: This is the little book that spawned a multi-million dollar empire of Shrek toys, a Shrek shoe, Shrek Gameboy games, and, of course, the two wildly successful movies. So, how good is the book that spawned all these money makers?
William Steig's Shrek is a malodorous, stink loving, ugly green monster-man: "'What a lovely stench!' Shrek cackled. The witch specialized in horrors, but one look at Shrek made her woozy." Shrek is not quite as loveable as in the movie; he delights in his ability to disgust: He dreams that adoring children are playing with him, and deems it a nightmare. Steig's humor is playfully insidious, and there are several clever poems:
"Your horny warts, your rosy wens,
Like slimy boogs and fusty fens,
thrill me."
The plot resembles the movie, but stripped down. There's a donkey (though he's not wildly verbal as in the movie), and a royal woman to rescue from a castle. However, the fights are all won either by his horrid personal traits or his ability to spit fire. After her rescue, and a vampire-like tryst ("Shrek snapped at her nose. She nipped at his ear. They clawed their way into each other's arms. Like fire and smoke, these two belonged together.") Shrek marries his soul mate: "And they lived horribly ever after, scaring the socks off all who who fell afoul of them."
The movie, with its million dollar voices, special effects, and expanded story line and satirical edge is better than the book, and I was never a huge fan of the movie. Please do not expect this short but original story to match the powerhouse film, or you will be disappointed. Additionally, Steig's strength is the humor and reversal of the usual fairy tale, the illustrations are only fair. Still, bigtime Shrek fans will want to take a look at the 1990 book that started an industry.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing like the movie but WONDERFUL!
Review: This was a family favorite for years before the film came out. Nothing against the film, which is a hoot, but the Shrek of William Steig's book is FAR lustier in his awfulness than the movie Shrek. He absolutely REVELS in his disgusting characteristics, and ends up meeting a princess who is the ugliest, most smelly, most horrific thing he's ever seen in his life. Naturally, he falls madly in love! They quote monster poetry to each other: Sadi Shrek, "Your horny warts, your rosy wens, like slimy bogs and fusty fens, thrill me." Said the princess, "Your lumpy nose, your pointy head, your wicked eyes, so livid red, just kill me." Was ever a romance so beautifully begun?!?? This is wonderful, wonderful stuff. Steig absolutely revels in making these two creatures as awful as possible, and young readers (and not so young!) will enjoy the fun that Steig clearly had writing and illustrating this classic book.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing like the movie but WONDERFUL!
Review: This was a family favorite for years before the film came out. Nothing against the film, which is a hoot, but the Shrek of William Steig's book is FAR lustier in his awfulness than the movie Shrek. He absolutely REVELS in his disgusting characteristics, and ends up meeting a princess who is the ugliest, most smelly, most horrific thing he's ever seen in his life. Naturally, he falls madly in love! They quote monster poetry to each other: Sadi Shrek, "Your horny warts, your rosy wens, like slimy bogs and fusty fens, thrill me." Said the princess, "Your lumpy nose, your pointy head, your wicked eyes, so livid red, just kill me." Was ever a romance so beautifully begun?!?? This is wonderful, wonderful stuff. Steig absolutely revels in making these two creatures as awful as possible, and young readers (and not so young!) will enjoy the fun that Steig clearly had writing and illustrating this classic book.
Rating:
Summary: Horribly Likeable
Review: We knew Shrek long before there was a movie. William Steig has once again created an unforgettable character. Kids will love how Shrek revels in his own hideousness! Steig challenges the reader with a high level vocabulary such as fusty fens, varlets and peasants scything blithely, and churlish knaves falling into stagnant moats. Anyone who just saw Shrek and is looking for some sort of movie novelization should go elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, we all loved the movie, but it is only VERY loosely based on this book. The donkey is more given to chomping grass than making wisecracks, for instance. I would recommend this book to parents of little boys and encourage you to check out other works by this author.
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