William Steig was an American cartoonist, illustrator, and writer of children's books. He is best known for his picture book Shrek!, which inspired the popular film series by DreamWorks. Other notable works include Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Abel's Island, and Doctor De Soto. Steig was nominated for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Awards as both a children's book illustrator in 1982 and a writer in 1988.

Born in New York City in 1907, Steig was part of a family deeply involved in the arts. He embarked on his children's book career in 1968 with the publication of Roland the Minstrel Pig. His stories often reflect themes of family and friendship, as epitomized by characters like Sylvester, Abel, and others, who find comfort and security in their familial bonds and friendships.