Folklore

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Written and Illustrated By: William Steig

Summary:
The story of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble involves a donkey named Sylvester and his rock collection. He finds a shiny red pebble that has powers to make wishes come true, as long as the person doing the wishing is touching the pebble. Sylvester runs into a problem, however, when her encounters a lion and wishes for safety by wishing himself into a rock. In this form he cannot move to touch the red pebble and thus change himself into a donkey again. He is stuck like this, to the sorrow of himself and his parents for months, until one day they happen upon the very spot where he lays, place the red pebble on top of him, and he wishes himself back into a donkey.

Application:
This story provides obvious examples of the elements of folklore, and these elements can be picked out and discussed within the class. I would use this book if I wanted an example of folklore that is new and entertaining to the students. Its storyline and pictures are excellent. It is a fairly contemporary story that brings the classic elements of folklore to life. This would be a great book to use when comparing older folklore to new stories, comparing and contrasting the elements of folklore and what makes this genre what it is.