Unit 3: William Steig
Annotated Bibliography of Reading Texts Used

    AR Level: 4.7
    After being saved from drowning by a whale, a mouse gets a chance to
    repay the favor years later.

Steig, W. (1972). Dominic. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 5.6
    Dominic the dog finds many exciting adventures and great danger
    fighting the Doomsday Gang after he decides to see the world.

Steig, W. (1973). The Real Thief. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 6.1
    When Gawain the goose is deserted by his friends after being unjustly
    convicted of stealing from his beloved king, the real thief is tortured by his
    conscience.

Steig, W. (1976). Abel’s Island. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 5.9
    Stranded on a deserted island, a lovable young mouse discovers inner
    resources he did not know he possessed.

Steig, W. (1976). The Amazing Bone. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 3.9
    Pearl, a pig, is saved from a band of highwaymen by a small bone, who
    can talk in any language and imitate any sound.

Steig, W. (1977). Caleb and Kate. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 4.9
    When Caleb finds himself transformed into a dog and is unable to tell his
    wife his true identity, he decides to become her companion.

Focus Text:
Steig, W. (1980). Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York: Simon and
    Schuster Books for Young Children. (Original work published
    1969)
    AR Level: 4.0
    In a moment of fright, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble
    to turn him into a rock but then cannot hold the pebble to wish
    himself back to normal again.
       
Steig, W. (1982). Doctor De Soto. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 3.6
    Dr. De Soto, a dentist mouse, and his wife, who is also his assistant,
    were not in the habit of treating animals that could be threatening to mice;
    so when a fox with a very painful toothache showed up at their office, they
    had quite a decision to make.

Steig, W. (1986). Brave Irene. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 3.9
    Plucky Irene, a dressmaker's daughter, braves a fierce snowstorm to
    deliver a new gown to the duchess in time for the ball.

Steig, W. (1986). Gorky Rises. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux. (Original
    work published 1980)
    AR Level: 4.9
    Clutching the bottle of magic fluid he has made, a young frog falls asleep
    and wakes to find himself floating in the sky.

Steig, W. (1989). Spinky Sulks. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    (Original work published 1988)
    AR Level: 3.6
    Spinky is convinced that he is unloved by his family and goes into a
    massive funk.

Steig, W. (1993). Shrek! New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 3.9
    This is the story of an ogre out in the world on his own.

Steig, W. (1998). The toy brother. New York: Scholastic, Inc. (Original work
    published 1996)
    AR Level: 3.8
    Yorick doesn't really care for his little brother until he works with his
    brother and learns what being a brother is all about.

Steig, W. (2001). Toby, what are you? New York: Harper Collins.
    AR Level: 2.1
    Toby is making mischief as a boy of many disguises when he turns
    himself into a doormat, a flyswatter, and a plate of spaghetti.

Steig, W. (2002). Potch and Polly. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Girroux.
    AR Level: 3.5
    Lively Potch pursues the girl of his dreams, the darling Polly
    Pumpernickel.

Steig, W. (2004). Toby, who are you? New York: Harper Collins.
    AR Level: 1.9
    When Toby and his parents go on a picnic, there's no telling who he'll
    pretend to be.
Lessons and Other Resources
by: Amy Fine