Rating: 
Summary: Story is similar to...
Review: This book's central drama echoes the plotline of Beatrice Potter's "Jenima Puddle-Duck." Of course, the characters of the wily fox and the babe in the woods are archetypes, but compare the two texts side-by-side (Potter's tale can be found online). However, it would be a big stretch to say Steig is "copying" in any way because his work has a charm and originality all its own. Anybody else read both texts recently and have an opinion on this observation?
Rating:
Summary: Story is similar to...
Review: This book's central drama echoes the plotline of Beatrice Potter's "Jenima Puddle-Duck." Of course, the characters of the wily fox and the babe in the woods are archetypes, but compare the two texts side-by-side (Potter's tale can be found online). However, it would be a big stretch to say Steig is "copying" in any way because his work has a charm and originality all its own. Anybody else read both texts recently and have an opinion on this observation?
Rating: 
Summary: A talking bone!
Review: This children's book is about a young pig who finds a magical talking bone and how the bone helps the pig named Pearl getting out of predicaments. Children really enjoy hearing this tale. The book was a 1977 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.
Rating: 
Summary: The Amazing Bone
Review: This is the worst children's book I've ever read. I am a teacher and have quite a range of knowledge of children's books. There is no moral to this story. The story starts out very pleasant and then there are 3 robbers with knives and guns. As if that isn't bad enough, they even hold the gun to Pearl's head!! There are 3 different scenes with them ~ it doesn't make sense. Then a Fox comes along and leads her to an abandoned house - With beer bottles on the front lawn!! It is truly an awful book. I teach High School English 3 and discussed the book with my students, some of whom are parents ~ they even agreed that it's not a book for children!!
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Summary: If You like Bones Read This Book.
Review: What if you were to find a talking bone? Well, you would be shocked too, just like a little pig named Pearl in The Amazing Bone by William Steig. Pearl was walking and then she stumbled over a talking bone. She liked the bone very much. In The Amazing Bone I liked when the bone started saying strange words. They were not even real words. The author's message is to never wander around too long. What will the fox do to Pearl after he finds her? Read this book to find out.
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Summary: Panacea for the world's woes, "The Amazing Bone" beats all..
Review: While this book is often only found in the children's section, "The Amazing Bone" is in my top three favorite books of all time, (along with "Tiffky Doofky", by the same author...)and should rightfully be shelved in every section of the library or bookstore This book has all the elements of a literary masterpiece and pulp combined; taut suspense, life-threatening dilemmas, love, life, drama, humor, insight. Simply fabuluous, a must have for anyone, literate or otherwise. Buy now before it's out of print...or regret it the rest of your life.
Rating:
Summary: Panacea for the world's woes, "The Amazing Bone" beats all..
Review: While this book is often only found in the children's section, "The Amazing Bone" is in my top three favorite books of all time, (along with "Tiffky Doofky", by the same author...)and should rightfully be shelved in every section of the library or bookstore This book has all the elements of a literary masterpiece and pulp combined; taut suspense, life-threatening dilemmas, love, life, drama, humor, insight. Simply fabuluous, a must have for anyone, literate or otherwise. Buy now before it's out of print...or regret it the rest of your life.
Rating:
Summary: That bone that bone's gonna get around
Review: Why hello book of my youth! And may I say, how pleasant it is to read you once again. I know it's been at least 20 years since I was but a wee tot on my mother's knee. She would read "The Amazing Bone" to me time and time again, and I really did find it a delightful story. Now, years and years later, I read it again. There's something about a good Steig book. And to me, this is the most evocative of his stories. Oh, there are people firmly devoted to "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble". And I daresay "Shrek" and "Doctor De Soto" have their fans as well. But give me "The Amazing Bone" over these trifles any day. It's a warm ribald thoroughly satisfying tale of a young pig, a talking bone, and the troubles that ensue. Pearl is a sweet young pig winding her way home one day. Enjoying the people around her, the clean crisp air, and the softness of the flowered glens, Pearl is a bit like Little Red Riding Hood. She is in no particular hurry to get home. When Pearl stumbles across a magical talking bone, she is delighted. The bone too is quite happy and the two make a delicious pair. When robbers (frightfully dressed in scary masks and carrying guns & knives) attempt to rob little Pearl, the bone successfully drives the bandits off with scary sounds. Some parents find this an inappropriate portion of the tale and will make a very big deal about it. Honestly? It's just a little too weird to seriously freak out a child. I daresay parents are the ones frightened by this part of the book. Not kiddies. Continuing in the story a dapper fox is less gullible than the silly robbers. When he decides to make Pearl his meal, the bone's cries are in vain. It is only through a series of fortunate turns of fate that Pearl and her bone may return safe and sound to her home and her parents. Don't get me wrong. The story is doggone bizarre. One of Steig's weirdest by far. Steig was a fan of the small common object (bone, pebble, etc.) containing great grandiose powers. His stories often focus on the little fellow outwitting the big (sometimes literally). And foxes were his favorite villains. Often elegantly dressed, they have the capacity for pity. They just ignore it. This particular story is especially disturbing because of the nature of Pearl's abduction. The fox forces her into his abandoned shack, leaving her cowering on the floor of a room. Want to drill into your children the horrors of strangers and the dangers of going anywhere with them? I can't think of a better method of getting this point home (though, admittedly, I don't remember getting that message when I myself read this story as a child). Though the book certainly contains creepy possibilities, the story is a good one. You're safe with Steig. And just a word on the beauty of his illustrations. Though Steig obviously preferred to grow messier and squigglier in his creations as he aged, no scene in children's picture books is more perfectly pastoral than the shot of Pearl reclining amongst the flowering trees and fields. All in all, a great story couched in a great book.
Rating:
Summary: That bone that bone's gonna get around
Review: Why hello book of my youth! And may I say, how pleasant it is to read you once again. I know it's been at least 20 years since I was but a wee tot on my mother's knee. She would read "The Amazing Bone" to me time and time again, and I really did find it a delightful story. Now, years and years later, I read it again. There's something about a good Steig book. And to me, this is the most evocative of his stories. Oh, there are people firmly devoted to "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble". And I daresay "Shrek" and "Doctor De Soto" have their fans as well. But give me "The Amazing Bone" over these trifles any day. It's a warm ribald thoroughly satisfying tale of a young pig, a talking bone, and the troubles that ensue. Pearl is a sweet young pig winding her way home one day. Enjoying the people around her, the clean crisp air, and the softness of the flowered glens, Pearl is a bit like Little Red Riding Hood. She is in no particular hurry to get home. When Pearl stumbles across a magical talking bone, she is delighted. The bone too is quite happy and the two make a delicious pair. When robbers (frightfully dressed in scary masks and carrying guns & knives) attempt to rob little Pearl, the bone successfully drives the bandits off with scary sounds. Some parents find this an inappropriate portion of the tale and will make a very big deal about it. Honestly? It's just a little too weird to seriously freak out a child. I daresay parents are the ones frightened by this part of the book. Not kiddies. Continuing in the story a dapper fox is less gullible than the silly robbers. When he decides to make Pearl his meal, the bone's cries are in vain. It is only through a series of fortunate turns of fate that Pearl and her bone may return safe and sound to her home and her parents. Don't get me wrong. The story is doggone bizarre. One of Steig's weirdest by far. Steig was a fan of the small common object (bone, pebble, etc.) containing great grandiose powers. His stories often focus on the little fellow outwitting the big (sometimes literally). And foxes were his favorite villains. Often elegantly dressed, they have the capacity for pity. They just ignore it. This particular story is especially disturbing because of the nature of Pearl's abduction. The fox forces her into his abandoned shack, leaving her cowering on the floor of a room. Want to drill into your children the horrors of strangers and the dangers of going anywhere with them? I can't think of a better method of getting this point home (though, admittedly, I don't remember getting that message when I myself read this story as a child). Though the book certainly contains creepy possibilities, the story is a good one. You're safe with Steig. And just a word on the beauty of his illustrations. Though Steig obviously preferred to grow messier and squigglier in his creations as he aged, no scene in children's picture books is more perfectly pastoral than the shot of Pearl reclining amongst the flowering trees and fields. All in all, a great story couched in a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Another Steig charmer
Review: William Steig creates such charming endearing characters that they almost distract you from the sweet morals of his heartfelt stories. I think one of the all time greatest two pages of childrens picture books is here when the main character leans back into flowers and says to herself "I love everything". That is a message and sentiment that should be remembered everyday.
Steig has so many rich values in his books that he is being taught in my college as a surpreme storyteller with wonderful messages for kids. He writes in a simple clean way while incorporating rich lessons that children may learn from subconsiously. He is a wonderful writer. This is a wonderful story, as are all his works.
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