Background
Summary of: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble:
Sylvester Duncan is a donkey that lives in Oatsdale with his mother and father. He loved collecting pebbles and one rainy day he found a flaming red, shiny, and perfectly round pebble that looked like a marble. He picked it up, wished it was not raining and it stopped. He headed home to show his parents when he came across a lion and without thinking he wished he would be a rock so that is what he became. He could not turn himself back because his shiny red pebble was not touching him. His parents got really worried and have everyone looking for him day and night. A year passed and Sylvester's parents decided to go have a picnic on the rock that Sylvester had turned into. Mr. Duncan found the shiny red pebble and sat it on the rock. Sylvester wished he was a donkey again and he turned back into a donkey. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were so happy to have their son back!
About the Author: William Steig
William Steig was born on November 14th, 1907, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents and older brother painted all the time. He used his artistic ability to create cartoons for the high school newspaper. This lead him to becoming a well known cartoonist. He did not start writing children's books until later in life. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble won the Caldecott Medal in 1970. He loved to use animals to tell his stories. He just loved children. He died in 2003.
Picture of inside of book from:
www.parents-choice.org/
Picture and biography information of William Steig from: http://www.williamsteig.com/index2.htm