Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

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Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1970) is a children's picture book written and illustrated by William Steig. It won him the Caldecott Medal, his first of many Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal honors. It tells the tale of a donkey, Sylvester, who collects pebbles "of unusual shape and color." One day he happens to come across a pebble that grants wishes. Immediately afterward, a lion scares Sylvester, and as a defense he wishes himself into a rock, the only thing he could think of at the moment. The rest of the story deals with the resulting aftermath: Sylvester's personal attempt to change back into his true self and his parents' search for their only son.

The book raised controversy among several school districts and organizations for its satirical portrayal of the police as pigs, and as a result was banned in parts of the United States.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Banned Books. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.
Preceded by
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
Caldecott Medal recipient
1970
Succeeded by
A Story a Story