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Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Audiobook, by William Steig Play Audiobook Sample

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Audiobook

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Audiobook, by William Steig Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Rex Robbins Publisher: Weston Woods Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 0.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 0.13 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2004 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780545767873

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

2

Longest Chapter Length:

12:47 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

12:42 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

12:44 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

20

Other Audiobooks Written by William Steig: > View All...

Publisher Description

Wonderfully brought to life by Jon Lithgow's narration.

One rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results. How Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family and restored to his own donkey self makes a story that is beautifully tender and perfectly joyful.

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"When I was in library school (back in the Middle Ages) this book was controversial. Why? Because when Sylvester's parents go to the police to report him missing, the police are pigs. This is the danger of adults putting their interpretation on a sweet children's story. Maybe William Steig was making a political statement; I don't know.I don't care. I love the story...be careful what you wish for! Oh and I also don't care if Puff the Magic Dragon is about marijuana or not. I love Puff and I still get misty eyed when Jackie Paper grows up and doesn't return...as do most other parents."

— Denise (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Sylvester’s sweet story is one that endures, reminding us all that sometimes what we have is all we really need.”

    — Amazon.com, editorial review

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.291666666666667 out of 54.291666666666667 out of 54.291666666666667 out of 54.291666666666667 out of 54.291666666666667 out of 5 (4.29)
5 Stars: 11
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 4
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " 1970 Caldecott Winner. When I first read this book I remember thinking that I will never collect pebbles. "

    — Ronna, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Alis rates 4 stars Eliza only 3. "

    — Carol, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Pre-K, narrative skills, vocabulary, families. "

    — Lucy, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Fables... a great way of scaring children into doing the right thing. Unless, of course, they are highly skeptical. The illustrations in this book make this one of my favorite kids' books. "

    — Pamela, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One of the simplest and most beautiful books for children. A classic. "

    — Michele, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a wonderful story that incorporates animal personification and magic with real emotions and family values. This book managed to reel me in as the reader and feel sympathy for Sylvester as a helpless rock and for his parents who thought that their child was lost forever. The illustrations are simplistic with little detail, but are colorful and really bring the words to life. "

    — Erica, 1/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Clever! The kids love this one and it makes for a good read-aloud. "

    — Nicole, 12/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An excellent story of family love. It is amazing that one personified image could pull a book with such a nice message from the shelves. "

    — Jennine, 12/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book is good for children to experience a variety of emotions. Not all books have to have happy images and plots. However, it does have a happy ending! "

    — Brittany, 12/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Wow, this book was trippy. I dig it. "

    — Selwa, 11/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Creative storyline that makes children think. Good for teaching story elements. "

    — Christina, 11/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Sylvester finds a magic pebble which turns his whole life around. "

    — Yasmeen, 10/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " One of my son's most favorite books I think --- He kept asking me to read it again and again. "

    — Wakana, 8/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Always a good message... "

    — Kathryn, 6/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A classic. Themes of family, friendship, patience, and keeping hopeful through difficulty. "

    — Ashley, 6/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is another Steig classic. After the main character, Sylvester (a young donkey), finds a magic pebble, trouble ensues. In the end Sylvester realizes there is no place like home. Great story! "

    — Julie, 5/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have been fond of this book for years and years. Be careful what you wish for! "

    — Joanna, 5/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I liked this story as a kid. Though looking back, it is pretty strange. A donkey turning into a rock? Really? "

    — Carol, 3/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A cute story about wishes and how they can change our lives. Sylvester learns quite the lesson after he discovers a magic pebble. A fun and creative story that will prove to be enjoyable to the little ones. "

    — Season, 2/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Love this book! It teaches our children that grand wishes seem good, but nothing is as precious as our love of family and togetherness. "

    — Chandra, 11/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " What would you do with a magic pebble? "

    — Kecia, 9/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this around 1st grade, and owned my own copy. I thought Sylvester's wish to be careless and foolish even at that young age. "

    — Chicklet, 8/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I liked the vocabulary in this book. I could talkt to the students about what they may wish for if they had a magic rock, seasons Sylvester had seen and why Sylvester's parents had put the rock away. "

    — Christa, 7/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a great book to read that is a time flies text. In this book it shows magic by the use of pebble. Also, this book teaches a lesson about making wishes. Sylvester makes a wish and turns into something he would have not wanted to be for the rest of his life. "

    — Alesha, 7/21/2012

About William Steig

William Steig (1907–2003) published his first children’s book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968 and received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble in 1970. His works also include The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book, as well as Abel’s Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. His book Shrek! was released by DreamWorks as a feature film and was immensely popular.

About Rex Robbins

Rex Robbins (1935–2003) was an American character actor of stage and screen.