Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
By: William Steig
Simon and Schuster, 1988
ISBN: 067166154X

Plot Summary
Sylvester likes to find pebbles.  One day he finds a pebble that he discovers is magical.  He tries it out a bit by changing the weather.  Sylvester, very excited about his discovery, races home to share his treasure.  On the way home, he was caught off guard by a scary tiger.  He panics and turns himself into the unexpected.

Critical Analysis
In this fictional picture book,  the animals are human-like as they live in homes, wear clothing and talk.  We follow Sylvester as he narrates the story that is told in the third person.  Sylvester acts consistent with how a reader could predict a child to act in the same circumstance.  Sometimes we don’t think before we act.
The theme of family and the importance of kinship is evident in this story.  Sylvester was very excited to share his magic pebble with his family in friends.  In the end, all he and his family ever wished for was to be together.  This message brings a meaningful ending to an otherwise simple tale.
The illustrations are colorful and bring life to the story.  The paintings depict cartoonlike animals in a rich outline with home or nature settings.  The pictures will help show emotion supported by text to young readers.
The animals are culturally appropriate for children.  The police officers being depicted as pigs in the book is questionable this day in age but is acceptable for the age of the book.  I do not think this will even be picked up by young children as being possibly inappropriate.
Awards and Review Excerpt
Caldecott-1970
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award-1978
Kevin McCaffrey of Common Sense Media states,  “Once again, Steig addresses one of childhood's biggest latent fears, abandonment, but his gentle, unerring handling of this issue makes for an endearing story full of pathos and strength.”
Connections
Gather other William Steig books:
Shrek (1990) ISBN: 0374466238
Abel’s Island (1976) ISBN: 0753581906
Amos and Boris (1971) ISBN: 031253566X

Gather other Caldecott winners:
Where the Wild Things Are ISBN: 0099408392
Make Way for Ducklings ISBN: 0670035386
The Snowy Day ISBN: 0140501827

Create a “Magic Pebble”- Have students paint a pebble to make it their magic pebble.  Students can write a paragraph about what they would wish for if they had a magic pebble.

Science Extension: Use this story with a science unit on rocks and the rock cycle. 
Use this story with a science unit on minerals.  Have students grow their own “magic pebble” with borax and water solution.

References:

McCaffrey, Kevin. "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Review". Book Review. September 04, 2003. Accessed January 27, 2017. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/sylvester-

and-the-magic-pebble.

 Steig, William. Sylvester and the magic pebble. New York: Windmill Books, 1969.  ISBN: 978067166540

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