Amos & Boris - by William Steig

About the Book

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale have little in common except that they are both mammals and save each other's lives.

Book Synopsis

Amos & Boris is a tender yet funny story of friendship by William Steig, the Caldecott and Newbery Medal-winning creator of Shrek!.

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue. And there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life at sea and Amos has gone back to life on dry land, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.

Review Quotes

A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Notable Children's Book of the Year, and Outstanding Book of the Year

"There is no question that Steig's affectionately witty pictures and perfectly complementary narration make this a durable picture book friendship." --Kirkus Reviews

"The book is funny and earnest, pellucid and profound." --The New York Times Book Review

"A simple, matter-of-fact story about the friendship between a mouse and a whale. . . . Lovely watercolor pictures and a funny, well-written text which presents its plot coincidences in tongue-in-cheek manner fit together admirably in this faintly Aesopian tale." --School Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based; the Caldecott Medal-winner Sylvester and the Magic Pebble; The Caldecott Honor book The Amazing Bone; and the Newbury Honor Books Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto. Stieg also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, and Our Miserable Life.