Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Picture Book Shelves - Lower Level - STE

A sweet donkey named Sylvester Duncan has a very happy life with his mother and father. One day he finds a beautiful red pebble and soon discerns that it is magical. As long as Sylvester holds the pebble, he can wish for anything he wants in the whole entire world. How exciting! Sylvester can’t wait to get home and tell his parents about this amazing find.

Unfortunately, on his way home Sylvester faces danger and wishes to become a rock. Now he can’t pick up the pebble and wish to become himself again. Thus, Sylvester is a permanent rock for the foreseeable future which sends him into a depression. In the meantime, his loving parents worry and wonder about what happened to their beloved Sylvester. They look for him high and low and inquire of all of their neighbors about Sylvester. Nobody has seen him and when the searchers visit Strawberry Hill and stumble upon the rock that is now Sylvester neither Sylvester nor they can communicate with one another. What will Sylvester do to solve his problem? Is he stuck as a rock forever or can he somehow become himself again?

Told in many words which may be unusual for a children’s picture book, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble which is written and illustrated by William Steig, is extremely interesting and heartfelt. It accurately conveys the deep love that exists between children and their parents and the extreme excitement of finding a way to have all of one's wishes granted. Furthermore, the art work within the book is spot on in terms of conveying the character’s emotions and reactions. In fact, this classic picture book won the Caldecott Medal in 1970. I highly recommend this picture book to anyone who loves children’s literature and even those who normally don’t read children’s books. It will make you feel good!