"Silvester and the Magic Pebble" is a beloved children's book written and illustrated by William Steig. It tells the heartwarming story of a young donkey named Silvester Duncan, who discovers a pebble with magical powers. This pebble has the ability to grant any wish, making it a truly extraordinary find. Silvester is a typical young donkey, living a simple life with his loving family. One day, while exploring the neighborhood, he stumbles upon a bright red pebble. Little does he know that this pebble has the power to grant him any wish he desires.
Now, the ornaments are produced in several European countries—Poland, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic—and each ornament is still made the old fashioned way and takes seven days to create; over 10,000 different items have been created over the past 20 years.
Several years ago and much to the chagrin of long-time collectors Radko produced an exclusive line for Target, but the line was limited and the differences between it and the originals were obvious to an expert collector, but many felt it hurt the brand name in the long run. The result is a collection of ornaments that are not only beautiful, but also highly collectible and sought after by Christmas enthusiasts around the world.
Little does he know that this pebble has the power to grant him any wish he desires. Excited about his discovery, Silvester decides to test the pebble's magic by making a wish. To his amazement, his wish is instantly granted! As Silvester begins to understand the true potential of the pebble, he starts making more and more wishes.
How Christopher Radko Ornaments Are Made
Christopher Radko Christmas tree ornaments are world-renown for their beauty, craftsmanship and their collectibility. Each Christopher Radko ornament is made by hand in a week-long process throughout Radko's three factories based in Poland, Germany and Italy.
Once each ornament has been conceived and drawn on paper, master carvers create a 3 dimensional clay or plaster replica or model of the ornament. The model is passed on to the molder who makes a mold of the ornament in sand and then creates the mold with molten metal to create a form. This form then becomes the master form for the ornament.
The week-long process of creating masterful ornaments pieces of Christmas-time art now begins:
- Day One: The glass blower uses the master mold as a template and blows high quality and perfectly clear tempered glass into the mold to create the ornament. Tempered glass is used for its unparalleled strength, density and weight.
- Day Two: The clear glass ornament is injected by hand with liquid sterling silver. The interior of the ornament is coated completely with silver to create unmatched luminescence.
- Days Three and Four: On day three, Christopher Radko artisans hand-apply a matte finish base coat of lacquer in a color that accentuates the motif and character of the ornament. For example, if the ornament is a snow man, the base coat is white lacquer, if the ornament is a tree, the base coat will be matte green lacquer. On day four of the Christmas ornament making process, a second application of base lacquer is applied and other other accent colors are applied by hand.
- Day Five: The painstaking process of detail painting takes place on this day. From eyes to tiny details, each ornament is hand painted with the utmost of care and detail. This process ensures that no two Christopher Radko ornaments are alike.
- Day Six: Glitter and other appliques are added to the ornaments for more sparkle, glitz and glamor. Basically, on this day, each ornament receives the "bling" that makes it a Radko ornament.
- Day Seven: Each ornament is inspected individually to make sure that each ornament meets the high standards of workmanship. Durability, beauty, paint detail, luminescence and weight are all scrutinized before the final step of manufacture. Once all quality tests have been passed, the golden Christopher Radko charm and custom ornament crown are added. The ornaments are then carefully tagged, carefully packed and shipped to Radko warehouses.
- Day One: The glass blower uses the master mold as a template and blows high quality and perfectly clear tempered glass into the mold to create the ornament. Tempered glass is used for its unparalleled strength, density and weight.
- Day Two: The clear glass ornament is injected by hand with liquid sterling silver. The interior of the ornament is coated completely with silver to create unmatched luminescence.
- Days Three and Four: On day three, Christopher Radko artisans hand-apply a matte finish base coat of lacquer in a color that accentuates the motif and character of the ornament. For example, if the ornament is a snow man, the base coat is white lacquer, if the ornament is a tree, the base coat will be matte green lacquer. On day four of the Christmas ornament making process, a second application of base lacquer is applied and other other accent colors are applied by hand.
- Day Five: The painstaking process of detail painting takes place on this day. From eyes to tiny details, each ornament is hand painted with the utmost of care and detail. This process ensures that no two Christopher Radko ornaments are alike.
- Day Six: Glitter and other appliques are added to the ornaments for more sparkle, glitz and glamor. Basically, on this day, each ornament receives the "bling" that makes it a Radko ornament.
- Day Seven: Each ornament is inspected individually to make sure that each ornament meets the high standards of workmanship. Durability, beauty, paint detail, luminescence and weight are all scrutinized before the final step of manufacture. Once all quality tests have been passed, the golden Christopher Radko charm and custom ornament crown are added. The ornaments are then carefully tagged, carefully packed and shipped to Radko warehouses.
He dreams of boats, rain showers, and other whimsical things, all of which come true thanks to the magic pebble. However, one day, disaster strikes when Silvester accidentally makes a wish in the presence of a hungry lion. In an instant, Silvester is transformed into a rock. Silvester's disappearance leaves his family devastated. They search tirelessly for him, but to no avail. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, until the distraught family gives up hope. They continue to remember Silvester in their hearts, but life moves on without him. One rainy day, as Silvester sits as a rock amidst a pile of stones, a kind-hearted stranger picks him up and takes him home. This stranger, a deer, collects rocks and believes that they have special significance. While cleaning the stones, the deer comes across Silvester and realizes that he is much more than a simple rock. The deer's touch reverts Silvester back into his original form, and he is finally reunited with his family. Through this enchanting tale, William Steig teaches readers about the transformative power of love, family, and the importance of appreciating the simple joys of life. "Silvester and the Magic Pebble" is a heartwarming story that captivates young minds and reminds us all to cherish the moments and loved ones that mean the most to us..
Reviews for "Exploring the Role of Family in Silvester and the Magic Pebble"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Silvester and the magic pebble". The plot was very slow and the characters were lacking depth. I found it hard to connect with any of them and their motivations were not well developed. Additionally, the writing style felt very dry and uninspired, making it a struggle to finish the book. Overall, I would not recommend this read.
2. Samantha - 1 star - "Silvester and the magic pebble" was a complete bore. The storyline was predictable and unexciting, with no surprises or twists. The main character was also very unlikable and I couldn't relate to his struggles. The book lacked any real excitement or emotional depth, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. I would not waste your time on this book.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Silvester and the magic pebble". The story felt cliché and the writing style was very dry. The characters were not memorable and the pacing was off, making the book feel disjointed. I was hoping for a more engaging and unique read, but unfortunately, this did not meet my expectations.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I found "Silvester and the magic pebble" to be quite dull and uninteresting. The plot was slow and lacked excitement, leaving me bored throughout most of the book. The characters were also not well developed, making it hard to care about their journey. The writing style was also quite plain, lacking any real descriptive or imaginative elements. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others.