Fantasy Book

Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Author: William Steig
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Date: 1969
ISBN: 0-671-66-269-4

Sylvester is a donkey and lives with his mother and father in a lovely home.  Sylvester’s hobby is collecting rocks of all shapes and unusual colors.  On a rainy day he was out in the woods and found an extraordinary pebble.  It was red, shiny, and perfectly round like a marble.  It happened to be raining, and he wished it wasn’t, and just like that, the rain  stopped.  He realized it was a magic pebble.  He was so happy because he realized ta with this pebble, his mom and dad could have anything they wanted.  On his way home he met a lion, and became frightened. With his pebble he could have wished for anything, he could have wished that the non became a butterfly.  But Sylvester panicked, and thought “I wish I were a rock” too escape the lion.  Sylvester is transformed into aa rock.  The picture shows a pink rock where Sylvester used to be, and on the ground next to the rock is the magic pebble.  This part of the book is so upsetting. Sylvester is a rock who could not speak or cry out for help.  It seems hopeless.  Meanwhile back at home,  his parents were frantic with worry.  They asked all the neighbors if they had seen Sylvester.  They went to the police and Sylvester’s friends, but to no avail.  All the dogs searched, and no sign of Sylvester.  After a month they realized something horrible must have happened to Sylvester.  Summer turned into fall, fall to winter, winter to spring.  Sylvester is a rock through all the seasons.  One beautiful spring day, Sylvester’s  parents went out for a walk in the woods.  His mom sat down on the  rock that was really Sylvester.  She noticed the pebble next to the rock.  She knew Sylvester would have loved this pebble.  As she held the pebble,  she wished that  Sylvester was there, and suddenly he turned from the rock back into Sylvester.  They never used the magic pebble for another wish because they had Sylvester back, and that was all they wanted. 
This book won the Caldecott medal, and is truly a beautiful story.  Children would feel the fear Sylvester felt that he would never see his parents again.  Children would be so excited in he part of the story where his parents were right next to him.  The ending is a happy every after story.  Tis is a tender story full of magic.  The art work is beautiful.  The book reminds us what is truly important in life.  5 out of 5 stars.