"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" is a beloved children's book written and illustrated by William Steig. Published in 1969, the story follows the adventures of a young donkey named Sylvester Duncan and his magical pebble. The book opens by introducing readers to Sylvester, a happy-go-lucky donkey who enjoys collecting pebbles. One day, while exploring the fields, Sylvester stumbles upon a shiny red pebble that appears to have magical powers. When he touches the pebble, he can make a wish and have it instantly come true. Excited about his newfound ability, Sylvester experiments with his wishes.
Excited about his newfound ability, Sylvester experiments with his wishes. He wishes for a group of pebbles to appear, and they do. He wishes for a lion, and it materializes in front of him.
Children's Literature Blog
Summary: The story is about Sylvester Duncan who lives in the town Oatsdale and enjoys collecting pebbles. One day, he finds a strange red shiny pebble and tests it to see if it is a magic pebble. He wishes it to rain, and then it begins raining. Sylvester than wishes it to stop raining, and the rain stops. After making these wishes, he notices a lion coming at him. He panics and wishes he were a rock, and he turns into a rock. Later that day, his parents begin to worry because he has not come home. The town begins searching for him, but months go by and no one can find Sylvester. Eventually, his parents have a picnic on Strawberry Hill, where Sylvester is sitting there as a rock. While his parents are sitting on him, he tries to yell, but they can't hear him. They notice the magic pebble and wish that their son would return. Sylvester the rock, turns into his old self as he and his parents rejoice.
About the Author: William Steig was born in New York City during 1907. Growing up with family that was involved in art, it was only a matter of time before William became an artist himself. In 1968, he published his first children's book, Roland and the Minstrel Pig. All of his books reflect the ideas of the importance of family and friends, and how everyone should support and look after one another. He wrote over thirty books, one of his more popular books was Shrek!, which was later turned into a movie many children love. (http://us.macmillan.com/author/williamsteig)
For the ClassroomPre-Reading Activity: I would hand out an anticipation guide about the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. When students have finished answering the questions, we would review the sheet as a whole class by having students raise their hand if they agree or disagree with each statement.
Post-Reading Activity: After we have finished reading the book, we would as a class work on a story map. Since this would be their first time using this type of graphic organizer, it would be a time to model how to use it. When finished, I would review the basics of a story map and why we use it, to better prepare the students for the future when they have to work on it independently.
Reflection: Reading this Caldecott Medal winning book, I realized why it received the award. The illustrations are different, yet great. They are accompanied with a great story of the importance of family and how a community pulls together to help those in need. Aside for the lessons it teaches students, the number of activities that could be done with this book are endless, such as sequencing of events, cause and effect, mapping, and using context clues. Reading this story, I didn't think it would have a happy ending, but fortunately, it does. This is a book children will surely love and become a story they want to hear over and over again.
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Sylvester is thrilled and continues experimenting with his wishes, even turning himself into a rock and then back into a donkey. However, as Sylvester is making his way back home to show his family his incredible discovery, disaster strikes. A wicked lion named Riley spots Sylvester and pounces on him. Fearing for his life, Sylvester panics and makes a wish for the rock that he turned into earlier. Instantly, he is transformed into a rock again, leaving him unable to prevent the lion from realizing that he's a donkey. Days pass, and Sylvester's distraught family searches desperately for him. They are heartbroken and believing he is gone forever. Eventually, they come across the rock that was once Sylvester and take it home as a memento. Meanwhile, as a rock, Sylvester spends his time reflecting on his previous carefree life and the importance of family. In a touching moment, he discovers that the magic pebble is lying just beside him. Overjoyed at finding the pebble, Sylvester makes a wish to become a donkey once again. To his amazement, his wish comes true. Sylvester immediately returns to his family, who are overjoyed to have him back. They celebrate his return and vow to never let the magic pebble out of their sight again. The book has a heartwarming message about the power of love, family, and appreciating the simple joys of life. It teaches children important lessons about the consequences of their actions, the value of family bonds, and the power of love to overcome hardships. Overall, "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" is a classic children's book that has been cherished for decades. Its vivid illustrations, engaging storytelling, and meaningful themes make it a timeless tale that continues to captivate readers of all ages..
Reviews for "The Role of Fear in "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble"
1. John - 2 stars - I did not enjoy "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." The story was slow and repetitive, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. The illustrations were also underwhelming, lacking depth and detail. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Emma - 3 stars - While "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" had an interesting premise, I felt that it fell short in execution. The plot lacked excitement and failed to captivate my attention. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. The illustrations, although colorful, did not make up for the shortcomings in the storytelling. I would not consider this book to be a standout among children's literature.
3. Matthew - 1 star - I found "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" to be a highly overrated book. The storyline was dull and uninspiring, and the resolution was anticlimactic. The illustrations were mediocre, with a lack of attention to detail. I was disappointed by this book, expecting much more from it based on its positive reviews. I would not recommend "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" to anyone looking for an engaging and impactful children's book.
4. Sarah - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear message or moral. The characters were forgettable and I struggled to feel any emotional connection. The illustrations, while colorful, lacked depth and failed to bring the story to life. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations and I would not recommend it to others.
5. Michael - 2 stars - "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" was a disappointment for me. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. The characters were not well-developed and their actions felt unrealistic. The illustrations were also lackluster and did not add much to the overall reading experience. I found this book to be unremarkable and would not recommend it.