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 SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE 

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Penguin Books Ltd, 2018. ISBN 978-1442435605

  1. PLOT SUMMARY

 Sylvester Duncan is a little donkey who lives with his parents in Oatsdale, and who loves collecting pebbles of all shapes and colors. One day while outside in the rain, Sylvester found a bright red pebble that was perfectly round like a marble, and he was so excited. It was getting cold sitting in the rain, and he said, “I wish it would stop raining.” And it did! The pebble was magic, and Sylvester couldn’t wait to tell his parents! 

But as he was going home, a hungry lion approached him, and Sylvester was so scared that he wished himself into a large rock to hide! But, the magic red pebble fell when he became a rock, and he couldn’t wish himself back to normal. His parents were worried, and they and the Oatsdale residents looked for him. One month later, Sylvester’s parents came upon Sylvester the Large Rock, and Sylvester was able to wish himself back into a donkey when his parents placed the beautiful red pebble onto the large rock with their picnic. Sylvester and his parents locked the magic pebble in an iron box, to use on special occasions, because they had all that they could wish for-each other!

  1. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the very beginning, readers are introduced to the playful and imaginative character that is Sylvester, and his mannerisms and interests are something that young readers can relate closely to. Readers follow along with Sylvester in his discovery of the magic pebble, along with the consequences of things he wishes for. Right away readers are introduced to one of the main themes of the story, “Be careful of what you wish for” ; this theme is something that readers as young as six can relate to, learning and understanding that not all wishes can be as good as we think they are. 

The simplicity of the pictures bring the story to life, and each page plays a different scene to the text that carries on the story. The illustrations are brightly whimsical and colorful, and help lead the reader in discovering the different adventures Sylvester encounters after finding the magic red pebble. The only times that the colors are not bright and cheerful are during the climax of the story where Sylvester is sad because he is stuck as a rock, and when the towns-dogs go on nightly searches for him. The illustrations then gradually become brighter as the plot resolves and he then is a donkey. 

  1. REVIEW EXCERPT

    1970 CALDECOTT MEDAL

    From Kirkus Reviews

“Sylvester's "only chance of becoming himself again was for someone to find the red pebble and to wish that the rock next to it would be a donkey"--surely the prize predicament of the year and, in William Steig's pearly colors, one of the prettiest. How Mother and Father Duncan (donkey), despairing of finding their son, do eventually break the red pebble's spell and bring back Sylvester is a fable of happy families of all breeds. (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 1969)”

  1. CONNECTIONS 

Gather other Caldecott medal books to read similar to “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” such as: 

  • Klassen, Jon. This Is Not My Hat. Walker Books and Subsidiaries, 2012. ISBN 9780763655990

  • Lobel, Arnold. Fables. 1980. ISBN 9788484701385

  • McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for the Ducklings. ISBN 978067005901

Gather other books that are similar to “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” with anthropomorphic characters” 

  • Antony, Steve. Please Mr Panda. ISBN 978-0545788922

  • John, Jory. Bad Seed. ISBN 9780062467768

  • Reynolds, Aaron, et al. Creepy Carrots! ISBN 9781442402973

    Use story as an introduction for young patrons ( 6-8 years old) on how to retell a story in the public library children’s area. After reading the story, on a mobile white board stick various illustration cards from the story around, and ask the audience to help you retell the story from the pictures. 

After the “Retelling the Story” exercise, lead the children to the crafts area and give them paper and crayons to draw what they would wish for after if they had a magic red pebble. After the children finish their artwork and are about to leave, give each child a red craft marble to take home as their “magic pebble”. 


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