Books like Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

I remember reading this as a kid as I was reading this to my niece and nephew. I didn’t remember reading it by title alone, but when the donkey was turned into a stone, I remember that feeling of helplessness I felt and that this story would be terrible. I didn’t think there was a way out. I remember those old feelings the story made me feel. I think this was read to me. I love it when that happens. I hope it happens more and more as I get into the newer books or books of the 70s and 80s that would have been read to me. I also have a distinct memory of that red pebble sitting just a few inches from the rock. Memory can be so strange.This is a great story. It’s a classic. It still connects to young readers on a deeper level. The kids were engrossed in this story. No one could figure out how the donkey would get back to being a donkey. When the donkey was making a wish, the nephew and niece talked about what they would do instead of wishing to be a rock. The nephew, no surprise, said he would wish he was big Frankenstein and he would scare the lion away. The niece would have turned the lion into a unicorn and let her ride him back to town. They came up with other fun and interesting ideas before we went on with the story. neither of them could figure out how Sylvester would become himself again until they saw the sad parents going on a picnic and then they both knew what would happen. Lovely artwork here, amazing story that really packs an emotional punch. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave this 4 stars.