Bibliography Steig, William. 1969. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 9780671662691 Plot Summary In this classic picture book, Sylvester Duncan, a young donkey, stumbles upon a magnificent magic pebble. He can’t believe his luck! He tests the pebble’s powers on the weather before heading home to show his family. On his way home he is distracted thinking of all the wonderful things his family can wish for and that they can have anything their hearts desire. Along the way, he runs into a hungry lion, panics, and makes a wish he regrets; he turns himself into a rock. The lion moves on, but Sylvester is now stuck in his new form. Will he find a way to reverse the wish? Thanks to a spring picnic, he is reunited with the magic pebble, and his loving parents. The family decides to put the magic pebble away for another time. After all, they have all they could ever wish for: each other. Critical Analysis The heartwarming characters in Steig’s classic story evoke a multitude of emotions from the reader. Steig’s uncomplicated writing style stirs these emotions effortlessly. When Sylvester finds the pebble, the reader experiences the same joy he does (after all, who wouldn’t love finding a magic pebble!). Even the youngest readers can empathize with the way Sylvester feels after he makes his wish to become a rock, as well as with his feelings of hopelessness as time passes and he cannot return to his normal form. As the seasons pass and we see Mr. and Mrs. Duncan grieve, the reader is able to connect with these feelings through the text and illustrations. The character and plot development come full circle when the family’s joy is restored and Sylvester becomes a donkey once more. Steig’s illustrations further compliment the story and bring the characters and setting to life. His watercolor illustrations are soft and warm, and his use of bold lines to show emotion in the characters is effective. Steig also uses the illustrations to incorporate elements that personify the characters. From the clothes the animals wear to the homes in which they live, children can picture themselves in the setting. The message that this book portrays is an important and powerful one. Sylvester’s desire to use the magic pebble to help his family and friends is understandable. Even though he was thinking of helping others, he still wanted “things.” As we experience the story with the characters, we feel their emotions and see the love they have for each other. As the story culminates, Sylvester’s father locks the pebble away and Steig ends the story with, “Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for? They had all that they wanted.” The family realizes that they are more important to each other than material things. The emotions portrayed by the characters and the valuable lessons taught make this story a classic work of fiction that children of all ages will enjoy. Response This book is one that I, honestly, have never read before. I am not quite sure how I missed this one, but it is going on my shelf as a classic. I especially like how Steig elicits an emotional response from his readers in a simple way. It is not over-the-top, but the text and illustrations are just enough to tug at your heartstrings. The human-like qualities the animals possess make the story that much more enjoyable for young readers. I am ordering a personal copy to add to my shelf today! Honors 1970 Caldecott Medal Winner ALA Notable Children's Books Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1978) National Book Award Finalist for Children’s Books (1970) Reviews “A remarkable atmosphere of childlike innocence pervades the book; beautiful pictures in full, natural color show daily and seasonal changes in the lush countryside and greatly extend the kindly humor and the warm, unself-conscious tenderness.”--Horn Book Magazine “Droll and whimsical, poignant and silly, Steig made quite a splash when this touching story of a donkey, whose wish seems to doom him to be a rock forever.”--School Library Journal Connections Other William Steig books:
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AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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