Old Wizzel the witch's hair sticks up from her head in unkempt spikes; her chosen victim, retired farmer DeWitt Frimp, is bald; but both author and illustrator have let their hair down for this tale of mischief, revenge, and redemption . . . In short, Wizzil is literary ambrosia. Blake's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, full of energy and humor and movement are sublime. "Starred, The Horn Book""

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. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig's work began appearing in "The New Yorker," where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, "Roland the Minstrel Pig," in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." His books for children also include "Dominic"; "The Real Thief"; "The Amazing Bone," a Caldecott Honor Book; "Amos Boris," a National Book Award finalist; and "Abel's Island" and "Doctor De Soto," both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with "About People" in 1939, and including "The Lonely Ones," "Male/Female," "The Agony in the Kindergarten," and "Our Miserable Life." He died in Boston at the age of 95.Quentin Blake is Childrens Laureate of Great Britain, has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and is the author and/or illustrator of many books. He lives in London, England.