What would you do if you had a magic pebble that could grant you any wish that you desired? I have a to confess that we have reached the part in the summer where I am really tired with the lack of solid, daily schedule. This happens every year, and being a stay-at-home mom, I have zero child care when school closes. The first month of summer vacation is spent reveling in freedom. Sleeping late! Spending the whole day at the playground! Popsicles for lunch! Don't get me wrong - all of the items listed above are simply marvelous, but then that something in my DNA that needs order and predictability kicks in, and I start to crave the scheduled days of the autumn season. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from Sylvester, the donkey in today's story. Sylvester finds a real magic wishing pebble, and he isn't careful with what he wishes for, and trouble ensues. I should try to put my schedule-loving DNA in a box and embrace the last weeks of free-wheeling summer. Before I know it, school will be here and we will all be knee-deep in construction paper and glue!

In this Caldecott winner, Sylvester the donkey finds a beautiful and unusual stone while he is walking through the forest. He picks it up to bring home to add to his collection. He discovers that the stone has the ability to grant wishes! When his wishing goes awry, he accidentally gets turned into a rock! His family looks everywhere for him but cannot find him anywhere. Eventually, after many months of searching, Sylvester is turned back into himself again. When he is finally reunited with his family, everyone learns that the most valuable thing is the love of one's family.

Have you read Sylvester and the Magic Pebble? Our edition came with a recorded reading C.D. voiced by James Earl Jones. It was awesome!