On a rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishescome true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvestermakes a wish that brings unexpected results.

How Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family andrestored to his true self makes a story that is beautifully tenderand filled with magic. Illustrated with William Steig's glowingpictures, this is a modern classic beloved by childreneverywhere.

Selected as one of the 100 Best Books of the Century by theNational Education Association.


From the Publisher
On a rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishescome true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvestermakes a wish that brings unexpected results. How Sylvester iseventually reunited with his loving family and restored to his trueself makes a story that is beautifully tender and filled with truemagic. Illustrated with William Steig's glowing pictures, this is amodern classic beloved by children everywhere. Sylvester and theMagic Pebble is a winner of the Caldecott Medal.END --This textrefers to an out of print or unavailable edition of thistitle.
About the Author
William Steig's work has received countless honors and awards.Called the "King of Cartoons" by Newsweek, his cartoons in suchmagazines as the New Yorker and his books of symbolic drawings haveinspired a multitude of cartoonists and artists. His books forchildren are loved by readers young and old. William Steig receivedthe Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, theCaldecott Honor Award for The Amazing Bone, and the Newbery HonorAward for Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto. His other books includeAlpha Beta Chowder (written by Jeanne Steig), Amos & Boris,Brave Irene, CDB!, C D C ?, Dominic, Grown-ups Get To Do All theDriving, Pete's a Pizza, Shrek!, Spinky Sulks, and Zeke Pippin.

Imagine all the happiness and wealth you could achieve if you founda magic pebble that granted your every wish! Sylvester Duncan, anunassuming donkey who collects pebbles "of unusual shape andcolor," experiences just such a lucky find. But before he can makeall his wishes come true, the young donkey unexpectedly encountersa mean-looking lion. Startled, Sylvester wishes he were a rock, butin mineral form he can no longer hold the pebble, and thus cannotwish himself back to his equine trappings. His parents, thinking hehas disappeared, are at first frantic, then miserable, and thenplunge into donkey ennui. Meanwhile, Sylvester is gravelydepressed, but tries to get used to being a rock.
In 1970, William Steig won the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester andthe Magic Pebble--the first of his many Newbery and Caldecotthonors. In this donkey's tale, Steig imbues his characteristicallysimple illustrations of animals sporting human garb with evocative,irresistible, and heartbreakingly vivid emotions. The text isstraightforward and the dialogue remarkably touching. Children willfeel deeply for Sylvester and his parents, all wishing for theimpossible--that the family will one day be reunited. Sylvester'ssweet story is one that endures, reminding us all that sometimeswhat we have is all we really need. (Ages 4 to 8)