Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

Book Genre: Fiction

Publishing Info: Aladdin, 32 pages

Awards or honors received: The Caldacott Medal

Summary: This is a story about a donkey named Sylvester, who loved to collect pebbles. One day he found an awesome pebble, that seemed to be a magic stone. After playing with it for a while, he saw a lion, and in order to save himself from him, he wished that he would be a rock. When he turned into a rock, he couldn't get his stone back to wish to be back into a donkey. His family was sad because they thought he had gone missing. A long time past, and his mother and father went on a picnic and his mother sat on salvester, saw the pebble and thought of him. She set the pebble down and he was able to wish himself back to himself.

Personal rating and reason for rating: ***** Great. Very good story, illustrations are beautiful and I love how the author portrays emotion with all the characters.

Reading level: 4.0

Interest level: K-4

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): This is another great book to discuss fantasy and reality, or fiction and non-fiction. This book would be a great way to teach emotion and feelings, either how authors and illustrators show them in different ways, or use the books to show how they can show feelings in their own writing and illustrations

Potential Problems or Difficulties: This book would be mostly just a read aloud in younger grades, but a great story and lesson.

Be careful what you wish for!