Caldecott Medal Winner
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
Summary
A young donkey named Sylvester finds a wishing pebble and, panicked by a hungry lion, wishes himself into a rock, leaving his loving parents to search for him in vain. William Steig paints the seasons turning over the lonely boulder in soft, warm watercolors that make Sylvester's silent waiting all the more poignant before a tender reunion. The book speaks honestly about loss, family love, and the things we truly wish for when everything else is taken away.
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Historical Context & Significance
The book faced bans in some places during the 1970s because Steig drew the police officers as pigs.