Sylvester & the Magic Pebble

Title: Sylvester & the Magic Pebble     

Author: William Steig

Illustrator: William Steig

Date of publication: 1969

Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Awards: Caldecott Medal Winner (1970)

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Animal Fantasy

Theme: Watch what you wish for – not all wishes are for the best. 

Primary Characters: Sylvester, the donkey

Secondary characters: Sylvester’s Mom & Dad

Classroom Use: Good story about wishes and unfortunate events. The story can bring about a discussion about how Sylvester ends up in an unfortunate event. I could lead a discussion about wishes and what else the students could think of for helping Sylvester & his situation. I could use the book to have students possibly make a project, write a paper, or some kind of hands on activity with their proposed way of handling Sylvester’s situation.

Summary: A story about a donkey that finds a magic pebble that grants wishes. However, on his way home he encounters a hungry lion & wishes to be a rock!! When he’s turned into a rock he realizes he’s stuck as a rock & can’t wish himself back to normal. Many months go by and the parents live saddened by his disappearance, their loveable son. One day, the parents decide to go on a picnic to try to have a happy day. By some amazing luck they end up on the rock that is Sylvester. Dad finds the magic pebble & places it on top of the rock (Sylvester). Just as the parents get sad in the memories of their son, Sylvester wishes himself back to normal. He’s reunited with his parents in the end after being away for so long and having been stuck as a rock!! They embrace with happiness and lock the magic pebble away!