'Tell my fortune, madam, and I'll let you have a few of my rare lice.'

    'Splendid!' crowed the witch. 'Here's your fortune.

        'Otchky-potchky, itchky-pitch
        Pay attention to this witch.
        A donkey takes you to a knight--
        Him you conquer in a fight.
        Then you wed a princess who
        Is even uglier than you.
        Ha ha ha and cockadoodle,
        the magic words are "Apple Strudel."'

    'A princess!' Shrek cried. "I'm on my way!'
        -Shrek, William Steig

Unlike the recent film, William Steig's Shrek is unbothered by the fear and loathing he provokes in people.  He revels in his ugliness and beastliness.  And when he meets his true love, she's just as ugly and beastly as he from the get go.  This makes for a much different story but one that's no less fun.  Mr. Steig's illustrations are simple and straightforward and he obviously takes great delight just in drawing his hideous creation.  Little wonder then that he sees the beauty even within such monstrosity.

(Reviewed:15-Apr-02)

Grade: (A) Orrin C. Judd

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