Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Written and Illustrated by William Steig
Publisher: Aladdin Picturebooks
1997
Grade Level:K-2
Themes: family and magic

Summary: A donkey named Sylvester finds a magic pebble. He discovered that if he held the pebble and made a wish the wish would come true. One day a lion frightens Sylvester. Sylvester makes a wish, but the wish brings unexpected results. I do not want to give away what happens to Sylvester.

Reflection:This is one of my favorites. It will definitely keep children's attention because of the magic and exciting plot. This book brings out so many emotions in the reader. The illustrations are colorful and filled with detail.

Pre-Reading: This is a great book to have the class make predictions with. I would have the students looks at the front of the cover and we would do a picture walk through. We will talk about our predictions.

Post-Reading: I will give each child a marble. I will ask them if they could wish for anything, what would it be? They will write and draw a picture in their journals. They will get to keep the marble.

About the Author:

William Steig (1907-2003)

Steig was a cartoonist, illustrator and author. Steig's family members were all artists so Steig followed in their path. He attended City College and National Academy of Design. Many of Steig's works appeared in the New Yorker. He wrote his first children's book in 1968. He has won numerous awards. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble won a Caldecott Medal and he also wrote the book Shrek! Which later became a movie.