Sylvester is a rock collector. One day he finds a magic pebble that makes wishes come true. He rushes home to share his good fortune with his parents. On the way, he's frightened by a hungry lion and quickly asks the pebble to turn him into a rock, so the lion can't eat him. It works-but there sits Sylvester on Strawberry Hill with no way to hold the pebble to wish himself back into a donkey. Seasons come and go as Sylvester's parents desperately search for him. One fine spring day Mom and Dad decide that a picnic on Strawberry Hill might be just the thing to cheer them up. Will Mr. and Mrs. Duncan ever guess what happened to their little donkey? Narrator John McDonough playfully conveys a wise bit of advice: be careful what you wish for. His expressive voice is perfect for entertaining young readers with the misadventures of impulsive young Sylvester.