Module 3-SLIS 5420

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig

Steig, William. (1969). Sylvester and the magic pebble. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Sylvester lived a quiet, normal life with his family, until one day he found a very interesting pebble to add to his collection. He soon discovers that this is no ordinary pebble-it's a magic rock that grants wishes! Sylvester greatly enjoys his amazing find, until one day an unfortunate incident leaves him wishing he'd never wished at all. This is a touching story about being content with what we have, instead of always wishing for more.

Impressions

This book has been a favorite of mine since my childhood, and I was thrilled to read it again! I love the concept behind this story, that we should be satisfied with what we have in life and not always be wishing we had more. I love the illustrations in the book, which were honored with a Caldecott award in 1970. This book is what I consider a classic and will always be relevant and interesting to children.

Reviews

Through the story and illustrations Steig successfully conveys the themes of family, community, and magic woven throughout this book. Using the words “hopeless and helpless” Steig shows the scary feelings that Sylvester is experiencing in his predicament. Steig shows the despair and sadness Mr. and Mrs. Duncan feel when Sylvester is gone. The sense of community is wonderfully portrayed in the illustration showing all the dogs of Oatsdale searching for Sylvester. Cheerful watercolor illustrations relate the happy surroundings of the Duncan Family at the beginning of the book. The subtle changes in color show the passing seasons as Sylvester’s parents miss their only son.

Blog site: http://libraryloverleslie.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble/

Sylvester the donkey disappears after a wish gone wrong, and a month long search convinces his parents that they will probably not ever see their son again. Months later, Sylvester's parents go to Strawberry Hill and, unbeknownst to them, sit on Sylvester (who has been turned into a rock). The story ends happily when the magic pebble is placed on top of the Sylvester rock.

McElmeel, S., & Mandell, P. (1989). Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. School Library Journal, 35(9), 73.


Suggestions for Use

This would be a great book to use for a discussion about feelings and emotions. Read the story aloud to a first or second grade class, then go back and name some emotions that different characters felt at various points in the story. Let the students provide the answers to questions such as: How did Sylvester feel when he found the magic pebble? (happy, excited) How did Sylvester feel when he saw the lion? (scared, afraid, terrified) How did the lion feel when Sylvester changed into a rock right in front of him? (confused, bewildered) How did Sylvester's parents feel when he didn't come home? (worried, frightened, scared) End with a discussion of how we all have these same emotions sometimes, and it's okay to feel them.