Shrek! facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | William Steig |
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| Illustrator | William Steig |
| Cover artist | William Steig |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
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Publication date
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October 17, 1990 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback and Hardcover) |
| Pages | 30 |
| ISBN | 978-0-374-36877-7 |
| OCLC | 22497777 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S8177 Sh 1990 |
Shrek! is a funny fantasy picture book written by American author and cartoonist William Steig. It was first published in 1990. The story is about a big, green monster named Shrek. He leaves his home to explore the world. In the end, he marries a princess who is also quite unusual looking.
When the book came out, people generally liked it a lot. Critics praised its drawings, how original it was, and the way it was written. They also called Shrek an antihero, which means he's a main character who isn't always good. The book also teaches about being happy with yourself and having self-esteem. Over ten years later, Shrek! became the inspiration for the first Shrek movie in 2001. This movie then led to the very popular Shrek film series, starring Mike Myers.
About the Author: William Steig
William Steig was a famous cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine. He worked there from the 1930s to the 1960s. He drew more than 1,600 cartoons and was even called "The King of Cartoons." However, he didn't enjoy drawing advertisements. So, when he was 61 years old, he started writing children's books instead. He was 83 when he wrote Shrek!.
Steig's children's books became known for certain themes. They often showed parents and children being separated and then happily reuniting. His books also kept the clever humor found in his cartoons. Other common themes in his books included change and being apart from loved ones. The drawings in his children's books were famous for their "rich" colors. He created them using watercolor painting and ink. People often compared them to his cartoons in The New Yorker.
The name "Shrek" comes from the Yiddish word "שרעק" (shrek). This word means "fear" or "fright." It originally came from the German word Schreck, which also means "fear."
The Story of Shrek
Shrek is a very green, fire-breathing monster. He seems impossible to hurt and enjoys making others unhappy with his scary looks. One day, his parents decide he's old enough. They literally kick him out of their swamp home! Shrek soon meets a witch. She offers to tell his fortune if he gives her some rare lice. The witch tells him that if he says the magic words "Apple Strudel," he will meet a donkey. This donkey will take him to a castle. There, he will fight a knight and marry a princess who is even more unusual looking than he is.
Shrek is very excited and sets off on his journey. He sees a farmer cutting grass and steals his pheasant to eat. Later, he faces a storm with thunder, lightning, and rain. He bravely eats the fiercest lightning bolt. He even knocks out a dragon with his fiery breath. However, he has a strange dream that bothers him. In the dream, he is helpless as many children hug and kiss him.
When he wakes up, he meets the donkey. The donkey takes him to the Nutty Knight of Crazy Castle. The Knight is offended by Shrek's demands to enter. He tries to attack Shrek. But Shrek blasts him with fire, sending him into the moat. Shrek enters the castle. He is terrified when he sees what looks like an army of ugly creatures surrounding him. But he quickly realizes he is in the hall of mirrors. Finally, he meets the princess. They are both delighted by how unusual they look. They get married and live "horribly ever after," scaring everyone they meet.
From Book to Movie
In 1991, filmmaker Steven Spielberg bought the rights to the Shrek! book. He planned to make a traditionally animated film based on it. However, DreamWorks later bought the rights for about $500,000 in November 1995. They quickly started working on the movie. The film Shrek was released on May 18, 2001. It featured the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow.
The movie was a huge success with both critics and audiences. It even won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. After that, several other Shrek movies were made, including:
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
The first Shrek movie was also turned into a Broadway musical. It was called Shrek The Musical and opened in 2008.
Many critics pointed out that the Shrek movie was different from William Steig's original book. For example, new characters were added, and parts of the plot were changed. However, Steig himself said that he liked the movie. He also noted that it greatly increased how many copies of his book were sold.
See also
In Spanish: Shrek! para niños
